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THE 

H. J. 1>JCK 

PRIJNTKR Y 

SYRACUJSE 

TS . V. 




OiljP 

Eprlamatinn nf liaba 

A J^atrinttr ISnmatirr 

FOUNDED ON FACTS 


A SEQUEL TO 

“iMr Wih HaUa” 


BY THE 

Rev. Ivan Morgan Merlinjones, d. d. 

PRESIDENT OF S. DAVID'S SOCIETY 
SYRACUSE, N. Y., U S. A, 


NEW YORK; 

EDWIN S. GORHAM 

PUBLISHER 

37 EAST 28TH STREET 
MCMXII 



Copyright, U. S. A. 
December 1912 

By Rev. I. M. Merlinjones, D. D. 
Syracuse, N. Y. 


PRICE 

PAPER COVER 75 CENTS 
CLOTH COVER $1.25 
SUBSCRIPTION 50 CENTS 


SUBSCRIPTION EDITION 


©Cl. A 3303 9^’ 

( 


Just a Word 


The charming story, ‘‘Dear Old Wales/' as related 
by Mr. Robert Jones to T. Owen Charles, Esq., the 
deservedly popular Editor of The Druid, a Welsh 
newspaper printed in English, at Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- 
vania, had a strangely fascinating influence over me : — 
it was as if confronting a photograph of an old friend 
whom I had not seen for forty to fifty years, every 
lineament visible and well developed. Then came to 
my ken the son of my old friend, — the “very image of 
his father,” and yet better developed, intellectual'y, 
financially, religiously; not better but “more good” than 
his father. 

“Dear Old Wales” is a true story of Wales forty 
to fifty years ago, as the photo of my old friend is a 
true likeness. My mind wandered from the period of 
half a century ago and over to the present time with 
the British Nation, which is led, guided — shall I say 
ruled? — by a Welshman, and the following story/ 
“The Reclamation of Wales,” illustrates the great 
development of Wales, intellectually, religiously anJ, 
yes, politically also, as related to me by the same Mr.' 
Robert Jones. 

Wales .is no longer the dumping ground for the 
refuse of the Saxon, nor is she the exploitation field of 
every religious cultism. Her instauration has been 
complete and she has been rehabilitated in her own 
ancient glory with the added lustre of modern achieve- 
ment. 


The sons of Gwalia, and also her beautiful daugh- 
ters, are leaders everywhere, whether you look into the 
wealth producing mines of Pennsylvania, where the 
chief leaders are Welsh, or visit the palace of the Eng- 
lish monarch, where you will find the "Chief of them 
all" in the Welshman whose head is singularly clear, 
whose heart is full of human kindness, and whose 
hands are ever leading from one victory to another, — 
the Right Plonorable David LIvOyd Georgk. 

To my fellow Countrymen in America I desire to 
send forth the features of Young WalKS^ with a brief 
account of the wonderful palinggenesia which caused 
his present Perfect Manhood. 

lechyd da a bendith y nefoedd arnoch i we!ed 
gogoniant yr Hen Fam Eglwys Gymru. 



Syracuse, New York, 
Feast of the Transfiguration, 
1912. 


Contents 


CHAPTER 

I. 

11. 

III. 

IV. 
V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 

XIV. 
XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 

XXIII. 

XXIV. 

XXV. 

XXVI. 

XXVII. 

XXVIII. 

XXIX. 

XXX. 

XXXI. 


PAGE 


Jonathan Thomas Rees, Llangwenllian . . . . 9 

The Rev. Evan Davies Morgan, B. A., B. D. 18 
The Institution of the Rector of Llangwen- 
llian 22 

The Reception. History of Llangwenllian. 30 

Dewi Sant in Llangwenllian 37 

Jonathan Proposes — The Barriers 41 

Jonathan Perplexed — Robert Jones’ Ma- 
sonic Experience 45 

Robert and Masonry — Finding Bishop Kip’s 

Book 50 

Robert Jones Investigating the Church.... 54 

The Effect on Jonathan 61 

The Spirit of Political Dissent 66 

Multisonous Dissenters 73 

The Rise of the Anti-Tithings 83 

The Fall of the Anti-Tithings 89 

The Beginning of the End — Useful Books. 94 

The Four Marks of the Church 100 

The Reclamation of Jonathan 110 

The Shepherd Deserting the Sheep 115 

The Church and the Chapel — A Difference . 123 
Rowland Williams Throwing Away Preju- 
dice 126 

Andrew Williams and His Dissenting 

• Tricks 131 

The Box and Its Influence on Llangwen- 
llian 138 

Political Dissenters Desperate 143 

Jonathan Ordained — Curate in Llanllwch . . 146 

Dark Spots on Dissentism 152 

Wales Aroused— A Magnificent Demon- 
stration 156 

A Mammoth Petition — Rowland Speaks in 

Parliament 164 

Changes in Llangwenllian and Rectors .... 173 
The Disestablishment of the Church of 

England 176 

Dear Old Wales, and Dear Old Welshmen. 183 

In the Gloaming Looking Forward 186 

The First Readers 189 


Cordially Dedicated 
to the company of 
Welshwomen and 
Welshmen who met 
me at Scranton on 
my visit there, when 
for the first time in 
thirty years I heard 
Welsh Songs, Welsh 
Hymns, and when 
I received a genuine 
Welsh Welcome nev- 
er to be forgotten, for 
the greater glory of 
our common country 
lonawr 13eg, 1912, 




THE REV. IVAN MORGAN MERLINJONES, D. D. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


9 


Reclamation of Wales 

CHAPTER L 

JONATHAN THOMAS RttS, M. A. 

The Rev. Jonathan Thomas Rees, M. A. (OxohJ, 
the newly designated Minister of the Wesleyan Chapel, 
Llangwenllian, was cordially received by the villagers ; 
— ^and being a “good preacher,” a grand future was 
prophesied for him. 

Jonathan was a native of Llanfynydd, a small ham- 
let a few miles from Wrexham, North Wales — famous 
a generation ago as being the parish of the poet Estyn. 
Jonathan’s father was a well-to-do farmer, with an 
honest heart and a level head, — a Communicant of 
Llanfynydd parish, and a leading member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity. In course of time the famous Mor- 
gan episode of Masonic notoriety in the State of New 
York, United States of America, had made itself fdt 
in the country district of Llanfynydd, and many were 
the discussions which young Jonathan heard at his 
father’s home, as an attempt had been made to organ- 
ize in Wrexham, what Jonathan heard his father called, 
“a clandestine lodge of Masons.” Jonathan was too 
young to appreciate the discussion or fully comprehend 
the meaning of all that was going on. 

But one thing he. never forgot, which guided him in 
his theological studies in after years, and that was the 
sentence, “a Charter can be issued only by a body with 


10 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


a lawful authority to do so/' 

'‘The work as exemplified by Dr. Dodge (the organ- 
izing deputy) is letter perfect," said Moses Jones, who 
had been a member of a Masonic lodge in Manlius, 
New York, America, but for some time unaffiliated on 
account of his European wanderings, who now had 
settled in Wrexham, and had been promised by Dr. 
Dodge the Worshipful Mastership of the new lodge 
when organized. 

"But," said Jonathan's father, "that may be. A par- 
rot may be taught the unwritten work. But Dr. Dodge 
has no credentials from a competent body. We have 
our subordinate as well as grand lodges, and no other 
subordinate or grand lodge may intrude into territory 
already lawfully occupied." 

In his study of early Church history and theology 
the principle in the above answer of his father was 
ever a guide to Jonathan. The Marcian heresy of the 
second century was made clear as he studied the doc- 
trines of the Church as acknowledged by those who 
had authority to declare with power what were the 
teachings of the Church from the beginning. 

Jonathan's connection with the Wesleyan body was 
an accident, and brought about after the death of his 
father and mother. 

When Jonathan was eight years of age his parents 
were passengers in a steamer which was wrecked off 
Anglesey, when nearly five hundred lives were lost, 
apparently without any warning, including the father, 
mother and two sisters of Jonathan. 

Jonathan was taken by an uncle, his mother's 
brother, who lived near Eglwys fach, a stronghold of 
Wesleyanism. Jonathan was naturally of a quick and 
cheerful disposition, but the terrible death of his par- 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


11 


ents and sisters left a deep impression on his mind. 
At the Wesleyan Sunday-school, and ’Ciety, Jonathan 
was recognized a fit young lad for the ministry. The 
loss of parents, and the parting with his living sisters 
and brothers, made him more reticent than ever. He 
sought quietness and reading, and became an apt stu- 
dent of rare books. The only boy within reach was 
four miles away, so naturally Jonathan was much in 
the company of his uncle and aunt, and two or three 
servants and laborers on his uncle's farm. His chief 
delight was in reading. He became an efficient leader 
in the Sunday-school, choir, and as time went on in 
the sessions of the Chapel. 

His aunt was anxious that he should be a lawyer, as 
he was fond of arguing with his uncle and others on 
current topics, and generally he came out the winner, 
as he was more familiar with the news of the day. 

But his uncle, a pious Leader — Blaenor — in the Wes- 
leyan Chapel of Eglwsfach, was bent on making him a 
minister, for to his way of thinking no other calling 
was higher, nobler, and therefore worthier than the 
ministry; and the old man had hopes that some day 
Jonathan would become the Minister of Zion Chapel, 
Eglwysfach, and that the good Lord would spare his 
life to see and hear him as such. He was proud of 
Jonathan. 

The uncle prevailed, and when not quite fifteen 
years of age Jonathan was sent to a preparatory school 
in Carmarthen, South Wales. This school, which af- 
fected the name of “Parkyvelvet Academy," was pre- 
sided over by a gentleman, a well known scholar and 
teacher, the Rev. Thomas Jeremy, M. A., a minister 
\vith the Calvinistic Methodists. He charged two 
guineas a quarter for tuition. He was a very success- 


12 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


ful teacher, and hundreds of ministers throughout 
Wales to-day received their preparatory instructions in 
this Academy. 

The selection of Parkyvelvet Academy, Carmarthen, 
was made on account of the fact that Jonathan had an 
aunt living in Carmarthen, — a widow, of some means, 
without any children at home. And as Carmarthen 
had both Welsh and English Wesleyan Chapels, and 
as Mrs. Jenkins ''belonged'’ to the Welsh Chapel Jon- 
athan would find congenial environments. 

Jonathan studied hard, he was as conscientious in 
his studies a^ he was in his profession of 'religion. He 
made rapid progress. During his residence in Car- 
marthen he came in contact with three men, who 
greatly influenced his life, — although from different 
angles. 

The first was the Rev. J. Wynham Lewis ("Homo 
Ddu”). He was the minister of Heol y Dw’r Meth- 
odist Chapel. The Rev. William Morgan, professor in 
the Presbyterian College, and minister of the Union 
street Independent Chapel, and the Rev. Latimer Mau- 
rice Jones, Vicar of S. Peter’s Church, — one of the 
oldest parishes and church buildings in the Princi- 
pality. 

The Rev. J. Wyndham Lewis was a splendid man, 
a large hearted, broad-minded and advanced thinker ; 
he never felt better than when helping young men. 
Jonathan’s aunt lived next door to him, and conse- 
quently the young student saw a great deal of Homo 
Ddu. He became to appreciate Homo’s talent, ability 
and thoughtfulness, in spite of the fact that Homo Ddu 
was a leading preacher, yes, without a peer, in the 
Calvinistic Methodist denomination. Jonathan was a 
strict Wesleyan. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


13 


Jonathan, as has been said, was conscientious, and 
his very integrity made him feel that Wesleyanism was 
the only religion; and although the memory of his 
earlier days, of his father as a Churchman, of the kind- 
ness of Estyn, and especially the tender memory he 
had of one of Estyn's relatives and ward /, softened his 
nature somewhat when thinking of the Established 
Church, and also when he would hear some of his 
fellow dissenters assailing her bitterly; yet he was a 
typicg.1 Wesleyan and a Dissenter — a great deal of the 
Ego, mixed with his religion — intolerant in his demand 
for toleration, and cocksuredness about the doctrines 
and methods peculiar to Wesleyanism, and that every- 
body else was wrong. 

Jonathan had passed through Parkyvelvet Academy 
with much credit, and entered, by the advice of Mr. 
Wyndham Lewis, the local theological college, called 
the Presbyterian College, located on the terrace, over- 
looking the beautiful river Towy. Why it was so 
called I cannot say, as nothing Presbyterian was con- 
nected with it. One of the professors was a Congre- 
gational minister, while another was the famous Dr. 
Vance Smith, an Unitarian minister, as was also the 
predecessor of Dr. Vance Smith. 

This college was patronized chiefly by students for 
the Congregational ministry ; and it stood equal to 
Brecon College — Coleg Aberhonddu — in this respect. 

At the end of the first year in College, North Wales 
was visited by a terrible epidemic of sfliall pox, — y 
frech wen. 

The epidemic attacked Jonathan’s uncle and aunt, 
and both died within a day of each other. The farm 
was in a chaotic condition. A local lawyer had pur- 
chased it from the uncle a few days before he was 


14 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


attacked by the frech wen. The uncle decided to retire 
from active work and to move to Eglwys fach village. 
The deed had been signed and handed over to the 
lawyer, and a check was made and given in exchange 
to the farmer. When John William Davies was taken 
sick the lawyer called on him with a '‘noted doctor 
from London.’' When the executors searched the 
house for the payment money, nothing was found. 

The aunt with whom Jonathan stayed had been in- 
duced to place a large share of her money in a com- 
pany of which Mr. John Lewis Davies, son of Thomas 
Lewis Davies, one of the chief members and a Blaenor 
in the Wesleyan Connexion, was the general manager 
and president. The company became involved and 
failed, and it took every penny that Widow Morris 
had to keep herself out of gaol, as she found that she 
was a director and personally responsible! The whilom 
president and general manager fled to America — to 
parts unknown. 

Jonathan found himself stranded; — with his heart 
burning with Christian zeal to become a minister of 
the Gospel. 

Mr. Wyndham Lewis called on Professor Morgan, 
and both made various attempts to find means of sup- 
port so that Jonathan should continue his studies. 
They appealed to' various wealthy men of both the 
Wesleyan and Methodist Connexions; and Prof. Mor- 
gan also had interviewed several Congregationalists, 
and especially Mr. David Gravel, a rich member of 
Penygraig Ch^apel, Llandefeilog Parish. Mr. Gravel 
was the author of several books, including a Welsh 
Hymn Book ; he was well known for his generous sup- 
port of young men, who had no pride. As for ex- 
ample : he would help no young man who combed and 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


15 


parted his hair, or who had a gold or silver watch 
chain. And when young men would visit him with an 
object of assistance they were in the habit of dishevel- 
ling their hair, and hiding their watch chain and would 
substitute a piece of string, or twine. Mr. Gravel was 
in a generous mood until Professor Morgan happened 
to mention that Jonathan was a Wesleyan student. 
When the good man heard that it was, “No. I can- 
not help the Wesleyans. They are heretics of the 
worst kind. They believe that once saved they may 
fall again. No, no. They are ranters.’’ 

There was a man in Carmarthen, who opposed Prof. 
Morgan more than any other in his political aspira- 
tions. The professor was quite active in the political 
affairs of the City. This man was the Rev. Latimer 
Maurice Jones, M. A., Vicar of Carmarthen, or what 
was equal to Carmarthen, the parish of S. Peter’s. He 
was a fearless defender of the Faith once for all deliv- 
ered to the saints, and was counted a most formidable 
enemy of Non-Conformity; but he had the good will 
and the confidence of the people, and who on more 
than one occasion had thwarted the schemes of Prof. 
Morgan and his radical Non-Conformist followers, in 
their aggressiveness. 

In some way or another, perhaps through Mr. Wynd- 
ham Lewis, he learned of the trouble. To hear of 
trouble was to act with the Vicar. The Rev. Mr. Lati- 
mer Jones called on Prof. Morgan at his home, which 
was next door to the Union street Independent Chapel, 
about 8 o’clock one Monday morning. The previous 
week had been a busy time with both men, as general 
election was in its height, and both had been “speech 
making” for their respective candidates. 


16 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


The Vicar was a Conservative, called by the oppo- 
sition Tory, but he was democratic in his dealings with 
his fellow men: — every man was his brother. Prof. 
Morgan on the other hand was a Liberal in politics, 
but cold and distant in his bearings. When he saw 
the Vicar approaching his house he was ready for a 
‘^stiff fight.’’ 

''Good morning. Professor.” 

"Good morning, Mr. Jones.” (Very stiff.) "Why 
am I thus honored?” 

"Well, Professor Morgan, don’t get excited. I am 
not here on political matters. I want to have a talk 
with you on a very important subject.” 

The two entered the study. 

"Prof. Morgan, I am told that you have a worthy 
student by the name of Rees, a nephew of Widow 
Morris. What kind of a young man is he?” 

The Professor scented trouble and proselytism at 
once. The nerve of the man to come to his very house 
hunting for converts ! He became stiffer than ever, 
and for a moment did not answer, as he could not con- 
trol himself. And when he did answer he was. per- 
plexed what to say. 

"Well, er, yes, Mr. Jones, there is such a young man, 
but I hardly think I could recommend him for your — ” 

"Ah, stop, my dear sir. I am not here to make con- 
verts, but to help. I have heard that through some, 
misfortune both his uncle and aunt have lost every- 
thing, and that his college life is imperilled. Now what 
I want to know from you is, can you recommend him 
as a student, his mental ability, moral integrity and his 
desire of being somebody. I know what it is to be 
placed in this position. If he is worthy I want to help 
him.” 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


17 


Prof. Morgan was more furious (internally) than 
ever. What! A clergyman of the despised Estab- 
lished Church willing to help when men of his own 
denomination and kindred sects refused! Jealousy, 
blind hatred of the Church threatened for a time to 
thwart this young man’s career; but better judgment 
prevailed. Prof. Morgan had a good heart after all. 
He took the Vicar’s hand, and with tears implored his 
Christian forbearance, and without hiding aught told 
the Vicar the emotions of the past few moments. 

“Well, my friend, I have always admired the con- 
sistent stand you have taken,” answered the Vicar. “I 
am not surprised at your feelings. I know you have 
hard feelings toward the Church, but we won’t say 
anything of that now. I am here to help if I may.” 

The result was that between the Vicar and the Pro- 
fessor adequate means were provided for the support 
of Jonathan for the next three or four years ; or longer, 
said the Vicar, “if he will enter Oxford or Cambridge.’’ 

Jonathan continued three years longer in Car- 
marthen, and urged by Prof. Morgan, by request of the 
Vicar, he entered Jesus College, Oxford University, 
and remained there four years. He was twenty-six 
years of age when he left Oxford, and soon he was 
“ordained” a minister, and his second charge was 
Horeb Chapel, Llangwenllian. 

HEB DDUW HEB DDIGON. 



18 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER IL 

the: rev, EVAN DAVIES MORGAN, B. D., M. A. 

This was about six months after the opening of the 
new Chapel at Llangwenllian. The Rev. Mr. Rogers 
was offered the presidency of the Wesleyan College, 
Ohio, America, and he accepted. In fact Jonathan 
was called to Horeb in consequence of his sermon at 
the dedication of the Chapel. 

Brilliant, eloquent, and greatly endowed with the 
Welsh poetic afflatus, and the '‘hwyl,’' — his fame as a 
preacher spread around like a '‘prairie fire.’’ His heart 
was full of love for Wesleyanism; and he yearned to 
save men so as to make them members of the Wes- 
leyan Connexion. 

Soon, the large new building became almost inade- 
quate to hold the congregation, as people came in 
droves every Sunday from Ruthin, Llanfair, and sur- 
rounding parishes to hear him. He had talent, he had 
intellect, but many would go away disappointed. Why, 
they did not know, but there was something wanting. 
There seems to be too much Jonathan and too little of 
the simplicity of the story of the Babe born in Beth- 
lehem; — a great brilliant survey of something, but not 
of the way of the Cross. What a contrast between the 
20 X 20 feet building in which the great Aubrey 
preached, and the magnificent new building in more 
sense than one. 

The unfortunate Rector, Rev. Cecil Sparrow, was 
overwhelmed. His dear, non-Welsh soul was burning 
within him. Now his never failing helper, Mrs. Arm- 
strong, was no more ; yea, and even the owner of the 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


19 


parish, in whose possession was the gift of the living, 
was a Dissenter ; kind, he and his wife, yet Dissenters, 
and more or less with Dissenters’ hatred for the 
Church ! He rapidly declined. His health became 
impaired and at last he resigned the living, and he 
entered the Monastery of S. John the Evangelist of 
Cowley, — there to spend his time in prayer and medi- 
tation. He gradually regained his health; he went to 
India as the representative of the Cowley Fathers. He 
was successful in converting many, and his splendid 
intellect was a great help to grasp and comprehend the 
needs and feelings of the Hindus. He also translated 
the four Gospels. He died in India after twelve years 
of hard and helpful work, — full of years, and better 
for his experience, no doubt, with the peculiar condi- 
tions at Llangwenllian which he did not understand nor 
endeavored to understand. 

The parish was vacant. The living is in the gift of 
Rowland Williams, a Non-Conformist; and though he 
and his wife are kind and fair, yet he had been taught 
from his youth that the Church was the natural enemy 
of Freedom, Liberty, which is dear to the heart of 
every Welshman. 

’Squire Williams and his good lady were perplexed. 
They would consult the new minister. At first the 
minister was inclined to advise them to close up the 
parish Church, as one church was enough for the 
place; and as Horeb was so well attended, he never 
thought for a moment that Horeb and not S. Gwenllian 
Church was the one to be closed. But on consultation 
with Lawyer Jones, of Dolgelly, it was found that this 
could not be accomplished under the law, however 
much the lawyer and the Wesleyan landlord would so 
wish. 


20 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


‘M know two clergymen of the Establishment whom 
I greatly honor, — the poet Estyn, of Llanfynydd, an I 
the Rev. Latimer M. Jones, of Carmarthen. Suppose 
we write to one of these asking him to recommend a 
rector?'’ This was agreed upon. 

The Rev. Mr. Jones strongly recommended the Rev. 
Evan Davies Morgan, M. A., B. D., a native of Car- 
marthen, a graduate of S. David’s Theological College, 
Lampeter, South Wales, and for the past eight years 
curate of Llawdden, at Wrexham, whom both Jonathan 
and the ’Squire slightly knew, at least by reputation. 
Mr. Morgan had married the eldest daughter of the 
poet Estyn. 

’Squire Williams wrote to the Bishop asking his 
Lordship if Mr. Morgan would be acceptable to him 
and if not, asking the Bishop to name a Rector. The 
Bishop immediately approved the nomination, and 
paid a personal visit to the ’Squire, thanking him for 
his courtesy in nominating Mr. Morgan. To the 
’Squire’s great surprise the Bishop was a Welshman, 
and could speak and preach in Welsh. 

The Sunday on which Mr. Morgan was instituted 
the Bishop attended in person, and was the guest at 
the Hall. The Bishop and the ’Squire and his lady 
were becoming great friends. 

An instance took place which was much in contrast 
with the last visit of a Bishop to Llangwenllian. 

’Squire Williams talked the matter over with Jon- 
athan about the propriety of closing the Chapel when 
the new Rector would be instituted. He and Jonathan 
visited every member of the Chapel and placed the 
matter before each. 

Sally Williams, who was now very infirmed, at first 
demurred. She said she would rather worship God in 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


21 


the, chapel where she could understand the prayers 
and the sermon, than to sit listening to something in 
English which she would not understand. 

“But, Sally,’’ said Mr. Rees, “this will be in Welsh, 
and the Bishop of St. Asaph is going to preach in 
Welsh. And the great Estyn and Llawdden will also 
be present and will preach in Welsh.” 

“Gogoniant,” said Sally, “Gogoniant i’r Arglwydd. 
Allelwia. My prayers have been answered. The God 
of our fathers have looked upon me in mercy. The 
hated Saxon will no longer dominate over us, and the 
English language will no longer fall on unwilling ears. 
Yes, yes, have it as you say. Mae’r hen Eglwys yu 
anwyl i mi’r trwy’r cyfan.” 

The minister and the ’Squire were astonished at her 
eloquence. But the truth is there is an innate love for 
the Church in every Welshman’s heart, when the 
Church is true to her Welsh tongue. 

They went from house to house, and the objection 
of Sally was offered, and the frank acceptance of 
Sally’s was given when each would hear the services 
were to be in Welsh. 

“Y gweddiau yn Nghymreig, a’r pregethu yn 
Nghymreig. Clodforwch yr Arglwydd. Y canu 
hefyd yn Nghymreig.” 


DUW A DIGON. 


22 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER III. ^ 

THE INSTITUTION OE THE RECTOR. 

When the Institution Sunday came there was an 
array of noted persons, — the Lord Bishop of S. Asaph, 
the poet-priest Estyn, Llanfynydd, Flintshire, the poet- 
priest Llawdden, of Wrexham, Denbighshire, the Rev. 
Latimer M. Jones, Carmarthen, South Wales, and 
various other noted men and women. 

The large parish Church was crowded. It seems 
that every villager was present, and ''hundreds’’ of 
others from the surrounding parishes, — from Ruthin, 
from Llangollen, and even from Wrexham and Dol- 
gelly, — and from everywhere: — even the noted Non- 
Conformist Lawyer Jones was there. 

What a contrast between this visit of a Bishop and 
the last when Mrs. Armstrong’s brother was there ! 
And all because this Bishop and these priests were 
Welshmen, and masters of the Mother tongue. Wales 
is waking to the fact, and the Church especially, that 
the Welsh tongue is powerful, — all powerful. 

Ben the Bard was there in all his glory. The old 
trousers of Barnes had been discarded, he had one 
more to his own size. Ben looks now as he did when 
I was a lad at home thirty years ago. He had been 
busy during the week, — and more than once he had 
been to Ruthin, getting inspiration, as no longer could 
he liquidate at Barnes’ Red Lion. He was proud of 
his new composition for the occasion, and would go 
from one to the other of those whom he would meet 
and repeat about the services and that they were to be 
in Welsh, and would say: 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


23 


O Arglwydd! Diolch am y dydd, 

Pan fo’r Hen Eglwys Lan yn rhydd. 

A’r holl weddiau, cred a’r canu, 

A'r pregethu’n iaith hen Gymru. 

Sunday morning at 7 o'clock the service began with 
the Holy Communion; the sermon was preached by 
Llawdden. 

Most of the members of the Chapel were present at 
this service. They were not quite sure how things 
would turn out. As a compliment to their own min- 
ister and to 'Squire Williams they would attend once; 
and this early service was most likely to be the least 
attended and noticeable ; they were a bit afraid. 

It was a Low Celebration; but hymns were sung. 
The Welsh must sing. The first hymn was: 

^'Marchog, lesu, yn llwyddiannus, 

Gwisg Dy gleddyf ar Dy glun ; 

Ni all daear Dy wrthsefyll, 

Chwaith nac uflfern fawr ei hun : 

Mae Dy enw mor ardderchog, 

Pob rhyw elyn gilia draw ; 

Mae Dy arswyd trwy'r greadigaeth 
Pan y byddost Ti ger Haw." 

There was no organ, and the “barrel" had not the 
“tune." So the leader, a nephew of old Azaraiah Wat- 
kins, and a fine baritone, took out of his pocket a 
tuning fork, and hitting it against his knee, putting it 
to his ear, gave the note, 

Do, Me, So, Doh, 

and then the whole congregation took up the hymn. 
The Chapel people were at first inclined to be silent; 


24 RECLAMATION OF WALES 


but before the second line was reached one tongue 
after another was loosened; and such a singing! Oh, 
the old Welsh words echoed and re-echoed through the 
building, as if it were thirsting for Welsh melody, like 
parched earth swallows water. From wall to wall and 
among the great high rafters were the notes flying as 
if accompanying Angels on their journeys of mercy. 
Verse after verse from Evan Daniel’s Hymn book was 
sung, and the last stanza was sung three times over. 

Then a hush through the vast building, as if all ex- 
pected something great to happen. The Rev. Evan D. 
Morgan, the new Rector, recited in low tone the Lord’s 
Prayer, and there was a rushing sound as if the Holy 
Ghost was descending as on the day of Pentecost, when 
in solemn deep, clear tone he proceeded with the Col- 
lect and the recital of the Ten Commandments; and 
the responses of the congregation, no longer the soli- 
tary voice of poor Azaraiah, were clear and thrilling 
as they said : 

‘‘Arglwydd, trugarha wrthym, a gostwng ein calonau 
i gadw’r gyfraith hon.” 

And the sermon, all in Welsh, with the exception of 
the text, which was read both in Welsh and English : 

S. Luc. xxii, 11. '^Adywedwch wrth wr y ty, y mae 
yr Athraw yn dywedyd wrthyt. Pa le y mae y letty ; lie 
y gallaf fwyta y pasg gyda’m disgiblion?” 

The sermon was strong. He said that the Master 
sends to-day to ask each person where ''is the guest 
chamber” with him in his heart, individually, person- 
ally, so that He may come with His disciples to feast 
in the heart. 

The sermon was commenced in a low tone, and per- 
fect silence was maintained, but as the preacher 
warmed up to his subject, so did also the congregation. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


25 


and before long a good Wesleyan brother could contain 
himself no longer, but out with a loud Amen, and 
“Diolch Iddo,’' from the bottom of his heart. This 
was followed by others, and others, and the preacher 
was getting more and more into the ''hwyh’ until he 
finished in a grand peroration, portraying the Christ 
coming to His children in the great Supper of the 
Lamb. It was a glorious sermon : — something never 
heard by any present in the parish Church before. 
There was a metamorphosis. The building was 
changed. It was no longer the cold, forbidden build- 
ing of an alien parish Church ; but it has become the 
warm home of God’s children, — beautiful in its ap- 
pointments with the mellow light penetrating through 
its beautiful stained glass windows. 

The sermon was over, then the offertory, the 
prayers and the Canon. More than three hundred re- 
ceived ; — more at this one service than for the past 
ten years put together, it seems. 

At 9:30 o’clock Mattins was sung, and at 10:15 the 
Holy Communion was again celebrated, when the 
Bishop of S. Asaph pontificated and the Bishop of 
Bangor preached. 

The Chapel members had forgotten all about their 
purpose of coming ‘To just one service,” and that the 
early one at 7 o’clock, so as not to be too conspicuous, 
for every one of them was there again, and they felt 
quite “at home.” Sally Williams was there in her 
wheel chair, as she was too old and feeble to walk. 
And old Betty had an extra ribbon around her neck. 
Betty kept up with the style as well as with the gossip. 
Thomas Jones, y shop, and Morgan, y crydd, both old 
and well stricken in years, and all the other well known 


26 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


village characters were there, and all others it seemed 
of people known and unknown to Llangwenllian. 

When the Church was built in the early centuries of 
Christianity Llangwenllian was an important military 
post, which on account of its strategic location com^ 
manded a splendid defence of the surrounding country. 
It was boasted by the people of the place that ‘‘a whole 
regiment might be marched into the church, and you 
could hardly see that they were there,” so large was 
the building. But at this service the building was 
literally “full.” What an inspiration for the preacher! 

For this service the Rev. John Howell, of Ruthin, 
had brought thirty-five members of his famous Boys’ 
Choir. This was supplemented with as many of the 
local singers as possible, who had been in training 
under the leadership of young Azaraiah Watkins. The 
Vestry room was too small to accommodate the clergy 
and the choir for the day, so two tents had been erected 
during the week, one for the choir and the other and 
larger for food. 

At the appointed time the Bishops, clergy and choir, 
silently proceeded to their seats in the chancel, and 
quietly knelt for private devotion. It was a High 
Celebration. The hymn given out was 

“O frynian Caersalem ceir gweled 
Holl daith yr anialwch i gyd ; 

Pryd hyn y daw troion yr yrfa 
Yn felus i lanw ein bryd; 

Cawn edrych ar stormydd, ac ofnau, 

Ac angeu dychrynllyd, aT bedd, 

A ninnau'n ddiangol o’u cyrhaedd, 

Yn nofio mewn cariad a hedd.” 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


27 


A procession was formed, somewhat as follows, to 
the best of my recollection: — 1. The Verger, in his 
gown, holding the wand, whence he has the name, to 
make way for the Procession; 2. The Clerk, carrying 
the cross; 3. Two Banner bearers, carrying two huge 
Banners of ecclesiastic design; 4. The Two Taperers, 
carrying candles and walking side by side ; 5. Thuri- 
fer; 6. The Sub-Deacon; 7. The Book Boy; 8. The 
Parish Priest in a cope ; 9. The Rulers of the Choir, in 
copes; 10. The Boys of the Choir in short surplices; 
11. The Men of the Choir; 12. The Clergy in their 
hoods and Tippets, those of higher rank w.alking be- 
hind those of lower, and 13. The Bishops of Bangor 
and S. Asaph, with mitres and staffs, and two Chap- 
lains each. 

The scene was impressive. The Cross had not been 
used for nearly a century, but for to-day it had been 
cleaned, polished, — the chaste brass was shining as a 
glory of the Lord. This is Ritualism, but the Welsh 
are the most ritualistic people on earth. Those who 
have ever attended the National Eisteddfod will read- 
ily admit this. In fact the British Church was the 
Ritualistic Church of Christendom par excellence. 

The procession marched down to the west through 
the north aisle, and back again to the east through the 
second north aisle, then to the south aisle to the west 
across to the centre aisle, and thence to the east, sing- 
ing the following hymns, and making the required sta- 
tions : 


“O Arglwydd ! cyfod i Dy lys, \ 

ATh arch o rymus fawredd ; 

D’ offeiriaid gwisgent gyfiawn fraint, 

'R un modd Dy saint wirionedd,” etc. 


28 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


'‘Rhagom, filwyr lesu ! 

Awn i’r gad yn hyf ! 

Gwelwn groes ein Prynwr — 

Hon yw’n cymmorth cryf ; 

Crist, frenhinol Arglwydd, 

Yw’n Harweinydd mad; 

Chwyfio mae Ei faner, 

Geilw ni i’r gad,’’ etc. 

''O ! Agor fy llygaid i weled 

Dirgelwch Dy arfaeth a’th air; 

Mae’n well i mi gyfraith Dy enau | 

Na miloedd o arian ac aur; 

Y ddaear a’n dan, a’i thrysorau, 

Ond geiriau fy Nuw fydd yr un ; 

Y bywyd tragwyddol yw ’nabod, 

Fy Mhrynwr yn Dduw ac yn ddyn,” etc. 

The procession appeared like an army of the Lord. 
It was a glorious sight. Men and women in the con- 
gregation joining the choir in singing, and men and 
women weeping and crying for very joy. It was a 
sight to remember. God was there, as His host was 
marching in His Name. The Holy Ghost was touch- 
ing their hearts. Jesus was there, for He promised 
that where two or three were gathered together in His 
name that there He would be. When the Sanctuary 
was reached a cloud of incense ascended as bearing the 
prayers of the congregation of saints, and a sweet 
smelling odor permeated the building. It was too 
much for Sally, for Betty, for even old Ben the Bard, 
for Sally was heard to say, God, this must be 
heaven.” Betty said and cried, “O God, thank Thee 
for this sight, and oh ! Sally, what must be the sight 
over there !” And Ben said : 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


29 


‘'Arglwydd, da imi fod yma, 

Mae fy nghalon i yn Hawn ; 

Diolch am y fendith yma 
I gael golwg ar y lawn ; 

Mi glodforwn yn yr Eglwys, 

O foreuddydd i’r prydnawn/’ 

At three o’clock another service was held. The Rev. 
Gwilym Goch, of Rhosllanerchrugog, preached, fol- 
lowed by another sermon by the Rev. Latimer Maurice 
Jones. 

At six o’clock the regular Evening prayer was sung. 
The Bishop of S. Asaph, the Bishop of Bangor and 
Estyn preached. It was past ten o’clock when the 
congregation sang: 

^‘Dan Dy fendith, wrth ymadael, 

Y dymunem, Arglwydd! fod; 

Llanw ’n calon a Dy gariad, 

A’n geneuau a Dy glod: 

Dy dangnefedd 
Dyro ini yn barhaus.” 

Such was the day. Such was the beginning of the 
rectorship of the Rev. Evan Davies Morgan, M. A., 
B.D. 

Three persons were wonderfully touched, — the min- 
ister of the Wesleyan Chapel, Rowland Williams, and 
Gladys his wife. 


Y DDRAIG GOCH A BDYRY GYCHWYN. 


30 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER IV. ; 

THE RECEPTION. HISTORY OF ETANGWENLLIAN. 

The Rey. Jonathan Rees was touched in two ways. 
First, let us give him due credit; he was immensely 
touched by the splendor and heartiness of the services, 
— a revelation to him; and secondly he was also touche 1 
by Cupid’s dart. This little fellow goes to the most 
unexpected places and does his work effectively any- 
where and everywhere. We must not be too harsh on 
Jonathan for yielding to the charm of Cupid’s thrust. 
He had met after years of separation the friend of his 
youthful imagination, Edith Gwen Lloyd, the youngest 
and most beautiful daughter of the Rector of Hope 
near Llanfynydd; and a ward of Estyn. 

When a young boy he had known Gwen, and many 
a time he had admired the little cherub of three or 
four years his junior ; and now he had met her and 
was again near her; and not without a feeling on her 
part. For she in truth also had thought a great deal 
of Jonathan when a tiny little girl, and had kept in 
touch with his history more or less. 

Jonathan had been cordially received by the Bishops 
and visiting clergy. They were not at all the haughty 
exclusive monocles that they had been represented to 
be. The rector had also spoken well of Jonathan. At 
dinner and supper, served in the tent, he had been 
made, with simple hospitality, to feel ‘‘at home.” He 
had been invited to “robe” and join in the procession, 
which he did after a great deal of mental perturbation. 

And he had actually met and talked with Gwenie 
Lloyd, now a young, beautiful lady. And he could 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


31 


see she respected him. There was no patronizing air 
on her part, she was a lady trained and to the manor 
born. 

She was also a great singer, and quite noted as such. 
And although she was not in the choir, yet he had 
heard her voice in the congregation as he passed 
through the centre aisle. 

Jonathan Thomas Rees, minister of Horeb, Wes- 
leyan Chapel, was in love with Edith Gwen Lloyd, a 
friend of the wife of the new Rector of Llangwenllian ; 
and she was a High Churchwoman, a Ritualist, — a 
Catholic ! 

For days nothing else was heard of in Llangwenllian 
but the wonderful services, singing (and without an 
organ) preaching in the parish Church; and all in 
Welsh ! Bendigedig ! ^‘Diolch Iddo byth am gofio 
r.wch y llawr.” 

The Master and Mistress of the Hall were also 
wonderfully touched ; and there was no sleep for them 
that night. Both thought of the time when the first 
service was held in the little Chapel, and then thought 
of the services of the day, an incredible development! 

They were more than kind, and their hospitality was 
boundless, as it was sincere. 

They insisted that their Lordships, and all the clergy 
should stay at the Hall, together with their wives and 
daughters. 

All accepted with the exception of Estyn, as he 
desired to be with his daughter and son in law, now 
separated further from him than when at Wrexham. 
Being well along in years he wanted to spend as much 
time near them as he could. But he was made to 
promise that he and they would honor the Hall with 
their presence the following day. 


32 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


The following day an impromptu reception was 
given the Bishops and other clergy. Messengers had 
been despatched to the villagers and tenants, and all 
within reach. And at mid-night Ben the Bard was 
sent to Ruthin with a reliable servant from the Hall 
to get all they could there necessary for the reception. 

Suitable arrangements were made with the landlord 
of the Royal Oak Hotel, and he engaged waiters, 
servers and edibles. That afternoon carriages, wagons, 
etc., brought the necessary things to the Hall. 

First, a dinner was given to all at five o'clock. 
Word had been sent that the afternoon was a general 
holiday with full pay. 

And the dinner ! A right typical Welsh dinner. At 
five o'clock Rowland Williams was heard to say : — 

'‘Bydded distawrwydd, mae'r Arglwydd Esgob yn 
gofyn gras !" 

There was a silence and his Lordship of S. Asaph 
in the beautiful mother tongue asked God of our fore- 
fathers to bless the food for our bodies, and our bodies 
for His glory, and after the Amen, the whole c ompany 
sang, for Welshmen cannot eat without singing, it 
whets their appetites : 

'TTi, y Tad, y Mab, a'r Ysbryd Gian; 

Y Tri yn Un ! y rhoddwn fawl ar gan. 

Am roddion rhad Dy ddoeth ragluniaeth fawr, 

A doniau 'th ras, i ni euogion llawr." 

Wonders seem never to cease. The 'Squire and 
his lady were astonished the night before when the 
Bishop asked permission to have family prayers before 
retiring. They had an idea, in common with nearly 
all Dissenters, that Churchmen only prayed in the 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


33 


Church from a book. They never thought that 
Churchmen, and especially the higher class of Church- 
men, cared about private and family prayers, or about 
personal religion. They thought that was only for 
the Wesleyans, and a few others of the Dissenting 
denominations. 

And again in the morning, family prayers, with a 
direct, brief, helpful and inspiring exhortation. It was 
a new revelation. Is this after all the “despised 
Church,” and are these a sample of the despised 
Churchmen ? 

And to hear Grace said by a Bishop of the Church 
in Welsh ! Mae calonau Rowland a Gladys yn cyn- 
hesu. 

The dinner proceeded amidst joy and mirth. Every 
one had forgotten to be stupid and stiff, each felt at 
home. Even they could breathe and converse with the 
Bishops and yet live ! 

When Englishmen come together, if they do any- 
thing outside of eating, they discuss heavy politics 
which they understand nothing of. 

But when Welshmen meet they have to sing, recite 
and barddonu. And at this dinner the inevitable took 
place. The first symptom was visible when some one 
said, “Let us sing Hen Wlad fy Nhadau.” And sung 
it was. Then the Awen was beyond control. Estyn 
was called for and he recited impromptu englynion, 
and Llawdden recited the “Dream of the Cymro.” 
Betty whispered across the table to Ben the Bard, 
“Now, Ben, this is thy chance.” But the only answer 
Ben gave was a smile, and, “Nis gallaf. Mae meistri 
yma heno.” Tears were running down his old rugged 
cheeks. His heart was touched, which with all his 


34 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


peculiarities, had the true “Awen/’ But the delight 
of all was a long poem, but not too long, by Azaraiah 
William Watkins, ''Yn mesurau caeth.’’ No one had 
suspected that young Azaraiah aspired for the crown 
of Ben, as the Village Bard, but he won it and by 
common consent Ben abdicated the throne, and from 
henceforth the fine baritone singer became the recog- 
nized Bard of the district. 

Then Miss Lloyd sang a composition of Estyn, set 
to music by herself. It was a love ditty of a maiden 
fair, who had met her lover, but he knew not of it. . 
and he also loved her but knew not that she felt ; how 
they parted, and how through years each thought of 
the other, and thought that the other thought not ; how 
they met again, and how each learnt that the other 
loved, and the happy conclusion in union of hands and 
hearts. 

Was Estyn a prophet, or is it a common occurrence? 
Was this to be true again? 

Her usual brilliant voice was more brilliant than 
ever. Pathos and passion, and hope and fear were 
in her voice. And one at least, felt as she felt. The 
Rev. Jonathan Thomas Rees, minister of the Wesleyan 
Chapel, felt the glame. And he also felt that after all 
there was an impassable gulf between them. She was 
a clergyman’s daughter, a child of a priest of the Holy 
Catholic Church of the country, and he was a Heretic. 
He felt it keenly. No one told him so, for if any had 
told him that he was a heretic he would resent it most 
vigorously, and would boast of it that he was a Dis- 
skntKR, a noble defender of Freedom, and was not a 
servile slave of the Establishment. But he felt it; he 
knew it, yea, he confessed it to himself that he was 
a Heretic. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


35 


The Bishop of St. Asaph gave a concise history of 
Llangwenllian, which was very interesting, and a rev- 
elation to many of the villagers and others, who had 
been born and raised there, and even to the ’Squire. 
His Lordship traced the history of the parish from the 
third Century before Christ, which then was called 
Cadair Goleu, as on account of its peculiar geo- 
graphical conditions the old Druids had an idea that 
Light was cradled here. Then as a Christian com- 
munity he traced its history to the second century, 
A. D., and explained why the name had been changed 
from Cadair Goleu (Chair of Light) to Llangwenllian. 
How Gwenllian, the daughter of a Welsh Prince, was 
converted, and how she suffered martyrdom rather 
than yield to the pagan King to marry him. Then the 
place was called The Church of S. Gwenllian, and was 
built over her grave. How for 1,600 years the people 
had been faithful to the Mother Church. And al- 
though he alluded to the building of the Wesleyan 
Chapel, there was not an unkind word said. Some of 
the Chapel people wished he had said something harsh 
or cross, so as to give them a chance to fight; but no, 
it was all in sympathetic chord. He even alluded to 
the patent fact that English priests, noble men many 
of them, were placed in charge of Welsh parishes, 
where neither the people nor the priest could under- 
stand the other, on account of their different languages. 
He deplored this as much as any of them, and prom- 
ised that no such appointment would be made by him ; 
but there was not a word of rebuke ; all was love, com- 
passion, tenderness as a loving father speaking to his 
own children. Eyes were wet, for many a heart was 
overflowing. The Master and Mistress were shedding 
t:ars; and their friends Taliesin, and Howell Jones, 


36 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


who were visiting them from America, were also vis- 
ibly touched. 

Thomas Jones, old and bent, drew from his pocket 
a curious shaped box, about a foot long by half that 
wide and about half an inch deep. He said that his 
father gave him the box a little while before he died, 
with the injunction that whenever a Bishop of the 
Holy Catholic Church of Wales should officiate in 
Llangwenllian Church, and say Mass in Welsh, he was 
to deliver the box to him in the presence of the Master 
of the Hall. His father it was stated received this 
box from his father with the same words of command. 
It was to be opened in the presence of the Bishop, 
Chancellor of the Diocese, and the Master of the Hall, 
and any others whom these desired. The direction 
was written, or rather engraved on the box, in Welsh, 
Saxon and Greek. 

Carriages, wagons and all kinds of conveyances car- 
ried the people two miles to the village. And as they 
reached the village they all as with one impulse turned 
their steps towards the parish Church, and knelt in 
front of it, and old Thomas Jones thanked the Lord 
that he had fulfilled his trust, and Sally and Betty 
prayed loud and strong, and the voice of the Wesleyan 
minister was heard praying and thanking God for the 
experience of the past two days. Undoubtedly Jon- 
athan's vision of the Church was accentuated by a 
vision also of Edith Lloyd, but who can blame him? 
Not I ! 

YN NGOLWC HAUL LLYGAD GOLLUNI. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


37 


CHAPTER V. 

DEWI SANT AND TLANGWENLUAN. 

Llangwenllian had never seen such a feast since the 
day of the Great Cymanfa, some fourteen hundred 
years before, when the Archbishop of Caer-lleon-on- 
Usk, Saint David himself, visited the parish. 

It was when Morgan’s doctrine, known in Church 
history as Pelagianism, made a terrible onslaught in the 
parish, and when many adherents to this peculiar doc- 
trine of original sin were found in this part of Wales. 
Pelagius was a Welshman, and was born in or near 
Cadair Goleu. He was an eloquent speaker in the 
mother tongue. While many of the opponents would 
speak in Greek or Latin, Morgan would burst forth 
in eloquent Welsh. Although* he had died nearly a 
century before, yet his influence was still felt, and 
now a new eflfort was made to spread the heresy 
through Wales by a determined school of higher 
critics, who desired to harmonize the Bible and the 
teachings of the Church with scientific discoveries and 
latest philosophy. A great meeting, called by the 
Welsh, Cymanfa, was to be held at Cadair Goleu, or 
as it has been called for some time, Llangwenllian. 
People for miles and miles were invited to hear some 
of the brightest apostles of Pelagianism, and a mighty 
concourse there was, — the number having been esti- 
mated by Giradldus and others as from twelve to fif- 
teen thousand people. No building was large enough 
to hold them, so an open air meeting was held, the 
platform on which stood the speakers was erected 


38 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


against the south side of the building, and seats were 
provided for the people. The one hundred and twenty 
second Psalm was sung. Welshmen always sing. 
Several harps accompanied the voices. One of the 
most eminent disciples of Morgan was to speak. 

He spoke eloquently of the life and spotless char- 
acter of Morgan; how he was born near the present 
location, how Welshmen must be proud of this great 
Welshman, — perhaps the greatest Welshman since the 
death of the first Bishop of Rome, Llinus, who was a 
Welshman. And then he drifted from this appeal to 
the patriotic feeling of the audience to the pure teach- 
ings of Morgan, and eloquently set forth the peculiar 
views of the great Welsh divine and philosopher. He 
spoke for two hours and twenty-five minutes. When 
he was through the people were visibly affected, many 
were ready to embrace the new heresy. When he saw 
the effect of his speaking the orator asked if there were 
any among the hearers who desired to speak or ask any 
questions. His idea was that some of the converts 
would come forward and confess the new faith openly 
so that others would be encouraged to do the same. 

A heavy built man of aristocratic bearing, straight, 
with long sandy — some say red — beard arose. Though 
a stranger at first to most of the people they could see 
he was a man of marked personality. To the platform 
he made his way. The people were impatient, — half 
converted by the eloquent Morganite. Who was this 
stranger ? — a Saxon most likely, or some foreigner who 
would speak against their fair Morgan, most likely in 
Greek or Latin. He was introduced as Dewi, the 
grandson of Ceredig. And hark ! he speaks. A hush 
is over the vast assemblage. His words are clear, his 
voice is like a silver bell, and he speaks not as a for- 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


39 


eigner, but as a Welshman, and in Welsh. The words 
go forth through the audience : “Dyma Dewi, y Tywy- 
sog,’' from mouth to mouth. (''This is David the 
Prince.”) 

He commenced in a low tone of voice, but every 
word is clear to the utmost listener. 

"Mae yn dda genyf i gael y fraint yma i lefaru, yn 
enwedig yn mhresenoldeb y gwr mawr a lefarodd, ac 
o flaen cynnifer o'm cydwladwyr serchus.” 

And on he spoke, an hour passed, two hours passed, 
three hours passed, and the vast audience was spell- 
bound : even Sylvanus’ eyes were riveted on Dewi, and 
often tears were seen in his opponent’s eyes as he lis- 
tened to a voice more like that of an angel than man, 
defending the Catholic Faith — that "Faith delivered 
once for all to the saints.” Four hours passed, and 
then came the peroration, sung in sweetest cadences, 
possible only among the Welsh people, — terrible in 
their earnestness, carrying conviction from heart to 
heart that the: faith should be contended for as the 
Apostle says. 

The vast multitude stood as one man, and Sylvanus 
among them, as Dewi said, "Cymry anwyl, sefwch 
wrth yr hen Ffydd ein Tadau, y gwirionedd mawrion 
cred Nisaiaidd, yr hon yn awr mu ganwn.” And then 
with one voice on one note the old Nicene Creed was 
sung, with thundering noise as of the rushing of many 
mighty waters. "I believe in One God,” etc. One 
cheer after another ascended to heaven, ten thousand 
times ten thousand "Gogoniantau” ascended to the 
throne of God. And the vast multitude proclaimed 
Dewi to be the Metropolitan Archbishop of Wales. 

Pelagianism was vanquished, and was blotted out 
forever from the Welsh Church, and Sylvanus him- 


40 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


self was converted to the true faith and labored long 
and successful among the Welsh people. 

Such a scene as the Institution of the new Rector 
had never been witnessed by the oldest inhabitant, as 
says Thomas y Ty Isa’, now ninety-nine years, ten 
months and twenty-eight days ! 

The news spread far and wide, and many letters 
and messages were received by the Leaders of the 
Wesleyan Chapel from leading Dissenters asking for 
particulars. Some very frigid letters criticising the 
members and pastor for so mingling with the “beast” 
of the Establishment. 

Dissenters are great advocates of freedom and lib- 
erty, — when it is on their side, but many of them can- 
not see Liberty for others who are opposed to their 
opinions. They howl against the Church because she 
will not unite with them, and when they have an oppor- 
tunity to unite with the Church on fair and square 
basis, they refuse and persecute any who will dare to 
show the spirit of harmony. 

The Rev. Mr. Aubrey was dead, the present leaders 
lacked the great spirit and heart of Aubrey. Sharp 
were the questions, and bitter were the denunciations 
of many of the leaders because the minister and the 
members of the Wesleyan Chapel, Llangwenllian, 
united in worship with the Churchmen of the village 
when the Rector was instituted. “What, join with the 
beast ! Beyond comprehension.” 

CREDAF YN YR KGLWYS LAN CATHOLIC. 



A PATRIOTIC STORY 


41 


CHAPTER VI. 

JONATHAN PROPOSES THE BARRIER. 

In the meantime the Minister of the Wesleyan 
Chapel and the new Rector were frequently seen to- 
gether, and often would Jonathan be seen going to or 
coming from the rectory; and some good people used 
to smile and say, ‘'Behold, how good and joyful a thing 
it is, brethren to dwell together in unity.’' 

But perhaps, Jonathan’s visits were not entirely 
prompted by “Clerical amenity,” for they say, as Betty 
says to Sally, “they say” he was often seen in the 
company of Miss Edith, a relative of Mrs. Morgan, 
who was paying a protracted visit to her friend and 
relative. Yes they were often together, and old Betty 
ventured once to add when telling Sally, “What a nice 
pair they would be.” Evidently both were happy, — I 
mean Jonathan and Edith. Both were good musicians, 
both were scholars, and undoubtedly there was much 
in speculative philosophy and metaphysics for them to 
discuss, yet it is a venture : they had no time for any 
such trivial things as they were too busy doing some- 
thing else, — as everybody’s doing it. Just the same as 
you and I when we were their age, and — 

Rees was a cautious wooer, yet he pressed his suit 
tolerably well. Week after week he had been on the 
verge of declaring his love, but his courage would fail 
him, and his memory would desert him as he was 
about to recall the words of an elaborate proposition 
he had so carefully studied for Edith Lloyd’s special 
benefit. He was afraid to hear that miserable, mean, 
death blow little word, “No.” 


42 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


He felt there was a barrier between them. She was 
a noble soul, true as steel, faithful as the magnet, with 
her brightest ideal in the loyalty which is due Christ 
from each person. She had said nothing “against” the 
Wesleyans, but she had said many things about and for 
the Church. She was frank with him, he knew he was 
a welcome visitor, and yet he felt he was a Heretic and 
could not be acceptable to this sweet daughter of the 
Church. 

Did she call him a heretic? Oh, No. She respected 
his calling as a religious teacher. Had she found fault 
with people for not attending the parish Church? Oh, 
No, she was interested in all his undertakings for the 
uplifting of his people. Yet he felt the gulf was im- 
passable. 

Their ideals were not the same, — their aspira- 
tions were. His ideal was to see the people of Wales, 
free, happy, independent. Her ideal was to see the 
people of Wales governed by the King of heaven, 
happy in His service, free in His love, independent 
under His yoke. He had a vision of the Perfected 
Civil Welsh Nation. She had a vision of the WELSH 
Nation united and perfected in the Church of 
THE Living God. 

Jonathan was getting braver every day, until he 
would see her ; but daily struggles will bring their own 
reward at last. One day he determined to know his 
fate, and like a gallant soldier facing the cannon he 
was determined to charge, not here the enemy, but 
something harder to face than the enemy. He thought 
out a fine speech, with similes and figures of speech 
that would surely win her consent. 

To the rectory over the familiar path he went, get- 
ting fainter and fainter, and more determined at every 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


43 


step. She was in the garden tending some new roses. 
He knew where to find her, and it did not take him 
long to do so. 

She met him with a smile. She was bewitchingly 
charmful to-day. His speech had flown away again, 
he could not catch the opening words; his tongue was 
fairly glued to the roof of his mouth ; but with a 
mighty effort he began to tell her of his love for her 
since they were httle children together at Llanfynydd, 
and once on his theme he poured out his heart in 
strains of eloquence which he never thought of in his 
well prepared speeches. Each word came from the 
very core of his being. 

She was overwhelmed. There was no doubt of her 
love. Her eyes, her face, her breathing, told that too 
plainly. 

She was sorely tempted. Her whole nature was 
aflame. She loved him as only a true woman can love. 
Yet she loved one yet better. No human being but 
her Saviour, the Head of the Church, — the One who 
had come to this earth to live, to suffer, to die, in order 
to purchase the Church, which He did with His own 
Blood! 

But before her was the lover of her girlhood, her 
ideal for years, and now in his very prime of manhood 
pleading for her heart and hand. The former he had 
aYeady, but her hand how could she give it and be 
loyal to her Church ? Ah, she thought of the sad story 
of Gwenllian, and was it not better to suffer death and 
be a witness for the Church, than to yield to personal 
likes and be among the absent witnesses? 

Tempted to the extreme, and in her weakness the 
Holy Spirit came to her and whispered Peace, and 
gave her help and courage, as the angel did with the 


44 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Master in the Garden of bitter Agony. She had con- 
quered. Gwenllian and other martyrs had given their 
lives for the Church, and she would give her love to 
the Church, and yield her heart on the altar of sacri- 
fice with her happiness as the fire to burn it ; and was 
not that indeed, yielding her life to the Church, in a 
more glorious way than death? 

She spoke. She frankly told him that she loved him. 
She was not ashamed to love such a noble character ; 
and she frankly told him that although her love for 
him was great, yet her loyalty to her Saviour and His 
Holy Church was stronger, and that loyalty to the old, 
Holy, Catholic Church of her forefathers forbade her 
to become his wife.. 

He knew it. He had known it all the time. Did 
not his own heart even whisper to him that the gulf 
was impassable, — that she was a true, loyal member 
of the Holy Catholic Church of Britain, and that he 
was a minister of a system which would ruin the 
Church if it were but possible? 

TI O DDUW A FOLIANWN. 



A PATRIOTIC STORY 


45 


CHAPTER VII. 

JONATHAN PKRPLEXKD — ROBERT JONES" MASONIC EX- 
PERIENCE. 

How to win Edith? was the question pressed upon 
the heart and head of Jonathan constantly, and as often 
as the question would be asked his subconscious self 
would answer Impossible, with this gulf between. 

Jonathan was a man of action, because he was a 
man of stern convictions. He had been ordained a 
minister of the Wesleyan Connexion. Was . he not 
taught from his younger days to hate the Established 
Church? Was the Church not an enemy of his coun- 
try, a destroyer of her beautiful language? Was the 
Church not a place indeed for the rich man’s sons to 
get a living? Was he not taught that it was a virtue 
to fight this alien Church? And in fact is it not con- 
ceded BY ATE that love of country, God and man, was 
only to be found among the Dissenters? And again 
he would ask himself. Was he not an ordained Min- 
ister of the Wesleyans, which alone of all the denomi- 
nations possessed all the grace and faith? 

And yet at the same time a vision of his sainted 
father would come before him, with his loving mother 
in the old parish Church of Llanfynydd, — themselves 
faithful members of this despised, religionless Church. 
And he could hear his father’s words concerning clan- 
destine lodges of Masons : ‘‘A Charter can only be 

issued by a competent body, — one having authority to 
do so.” “But Dr. Dodge has no credentials from a 
competent body.” And was Masonry more exacting 
than the Church of the Living God? 


46 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


These words had helped him before in his reception 
of the Canonical books of the Bible. The only au- 
thentic Witness to the Bible is the Church. When the 
many books were proposed as Canonical the Church 
declared which books were to be received, and what 
books were to be rejected. Concerning the disputed 
doctrines of the Christian Faith, as the Divinity of 
our blessed Lord, the question was decided by author- 
ity of the Church, and not by individuals, however 
great and influential the entertainer of the notions 
might be. 

And the question of authority would inject itself 
when considering the questions raised by Miss Lloyd. 

''After all,'’ it would come to his mind, "what 
AUTHORITY, outside of their own volition, had the 
several ministers to ordain one as a minister of the 
Gospel ? The question is not whether I am called, but 
whether I am sent.” 

Jonathan was no coward, neither was he a fool. 
Once aroused he was ready to face all. But he did 
love the work of the Wesleyan ministry. His lot was 
cast in a fair land. The respect of others, and even 
the dependency of others, placed a responsibility on 
him not adversely to his liking, as he was human like 
all of us. 

My father had passed away, and I was back on my 
native heath, manager of the Hall estate, when these 
events took place. 

One morning Jonathan met me by the little brook 
running through the meadow. I never saw him so 
thoughtful, so solemn. His early experience had 
made him pensive; but to-day he was actually melan- 
cholic. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


47 


I had been to America, made my fortune there, and 
now a manager of the estate of my dearest friend, I 
felt in the mood of j6king Jonathan a bit. 

“Why so gloomy on a day like this, Barchedig 
frawd?” 

I shall never forget his look. He turned his large 
mournful eyes on me, and I could see the terrible 
agony which possessed him. I was sorry for the bit 
of teasing. 

“Robert anwyl,” he said, “I am in doubt, and it 
weighs heavily on my soul.” 

“No bad news, I hope,” I said just to say some- 
thing, as I was thoroughly unnerved at his sight, and 
to throw aside what I felt was coming. 

“No, no, and yes, yes,” he sighed. “It depends what 
you mean by ‘bad news.' My conscience tells me there 
is something wrong. You, Robert, have had a wide 
experience in this world. You were for years in 
America, where they tell me, men are quick to think, 
to grasp, to learn, especially in religious matters.” 

“Yes, they do settle things very quickly there. And 
my humble service is at your commands, my reverend 
sir.” 

Jonathan was silent for a moment as if wrestling 
with his soul, but presently he said, abruptly : 

“I am in doubt about the validity of my ordination. 
I was ordained by Wesleyan Ministers; but my ques- 
tion is : ‘What Authority had they to ordain me ?' ” 

“Now I am glad you spoke to me of this. I have 
noticed for some time, — in fact since the Bishops were 
here, — that you had softened very much in your atti- 
tude towards others, — and especially towards the 
Church. I was brought up in this village, and was 
taught from my boyhood that the Church was wrong. 


48 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


and that she was endeavoring to blot out our glorious 
liberties. I was a small, and a poor, boy when the 
Wesleyan Chapel was fir^t built. I remember the 
part I took in procuring the Bible for the pulpit. I 
had to leave this village on account of the narrow- 
minded dealings of the Rector here. This persuade 1 
me more than ever that the Church was of the wicked 
one, and that Dissenters alone were the friends of the 
country, and of our dear language. 

“While in New York I was approached by a friend 
of mine to join the Masonic Order. I was glad of the 
opportunity as I had always feelings of great respect 
and awe for that Order. I signed the application, and 
in due time I was admitted, passed and raised in due 
and ancient form. The work was beautiful, the les- 
sons taught were grand. I was delighted. The Order 
was up to my expectation, in fact I could have truth- 
fully echoed the words of the Queen of Sheba that 
the half of the beauty was never told of the Order. 
I remember when a boy at home how proud Mr. Rich- 
ard Vaughan, the father of the present Thomas 
Vaughan, of Bryn Isa’ farm, was on St. John’s Day 
when he would go to attend Church with the Masons, 
when about one hundred of them would march from 
the Lodge room to the Church, and the Rev. Cecil 
Sparrow would preach and was proud, he would say, 
to be one of them. 

“Two or three days after I was raised I met the 
Rev. Mr. Foulkes, our Welsh minister. I knew he 
was a Mason, and a Chaplain of a lodge. I was proud 
when I hailed him with a Masonic sign. He answered 
all right, and after a few more signs, grips and signals, 
he asked me where I belonged. I told him I was a 
member of Perfection Lodge, No. 319, A. F. & A. M. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


49 


He seemed to be puzzled, and asked me what State. 

I told him the State of New York, and the City of 
New York. He asked me a few more questions which 
1 answered, doubting nothing was wrong. Finally he 
told me that I had joined a clandestine lodge. I never 
had heard of that name ; but I told him it was not so, 
that this was an English lodge, and all the members 
were respectable looking brothers, and all the work 
was carried on in the English language, and there was 
nothing foreign about it. I never had an idea what 
Clandestine meant. 

“ 'It is a lodge,’ he said, "without any lawful Char- 
ter. And its members are not recognized by the real 
Masonic Order.’ 

"I was innocent, and I supposed he did not like it 
because I did not join his own lodge. But I was satis- 
fied, and turned away from Mr. Foulkes rather indig- 
nant that he should insinuate that my lodge was not 
as good as his own. The night when I was finally 
made a Mason the Secretary gave me a Monitor, with 
all the works in, for which I paid five dollars. I 
studied it carefully and found by the help of a 'key’ 
I was given, that the unwritten work was all right.” 

I paused. 

"Go on,” said Jonathan, "my father was a Mason, 
and I heard him speak of clandestine lodges.” 

DUW A DUW YN UNIG. 




50 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER VIII. 

ROBERT AND MASONRY — FINDING BISHOP KIP’S BOOK. 

'‘I nursed a hard grievance against Mr. Foulkes. 
But soon I met John Meredith Richards, whose son 
Taliesin I knew quite well, as he was clerking in a 
bank where I had a large deposit and was a Director. 

‘T said, ‘Mr. Richards, I know you are a Mason. 
I want to attend lodge to-night. May I go with you?' 

“ ‘Why, Robert Jones, I did not know that you were 
a member of the Craft. When were you made one?’ 

“I told him, and it was arranged that I should take 
dinner with him that evening, and then would go to 
lodge with him. 

“The time arrived. We were at the Lodge. Mr. 
Richards spoke to the Master and he appointed a 
Committee of three to examine me. 

“I went through the work fine. I had a good mem- 
ory. I had taken great pains to get the work ‘letter 
perfect.’ We were through with the examination, and 
just as the committee was going one of them asked 
me what was the name of my lodge and its number. 
I told him that it was Perfection Lodge, No. 319, which 
met on the 18th floor of the Crocker Building. 

“The three stood still, their faces were turned 
ashen. ‘Clandestine,’ said one to the other. I felt 
queer. 

“The three left me and entered the lodge room, and 
in about fifteen minutes five men, accompanied by Mr. 
Richards and the Rev. Mr. Foulkes, came out. It was 
explained to me that the so called Perfection Lodge 
was a clandestine lodge; oh, that word, how it worked 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


51 


on my nerve, and that I could not be admitted. I was 
furious, and my Welsh temper got up, and I told them 
a few things about being narrow minded and bigoted, 
and that the work of Perfection Lodge was fine, etc., 
etc. I was afterwards ashamed. Mr. Foulkes and 
Mr. Richards spoke to me in Welsh, and explained that 
Clandestine meant, lladradaidd, dan law. 

“I understood. I had been fooled. My one hun- 
dred doPars were paid for work stolen from its proper 
guardian. The lodge had no lawful Charter to work 
the degrees. The men could see that I had been duped. 
Both Mr. Foulkes and Mr. Richards spoke a good 
\yord for me. .1 was told that the only thing I could 
do was to be healed. That I did not quite understand, 
as I did not know that I was sick, though I did feel 
pretty Tummy.’ I told them that I would see a physi- 
cian. They laughed and explained what they meant 
when they said 'healed,’ that I should be initiated into 
a lodge having a lawful Charter, granted by a body 
possessing proper authority to grant one. In due time 
I became a member of Washington Lodge, No. 5.” 

I stopped. He waited for me to proceed, and when 
he saw that I had finished, he said it was a very inter- 
esting experience, but what had that to do with his 
ordination ? 

"Nothing,” I said, "with your ordination, but I 
thought you were in doubt of the validity of your ordi- 
nation.” Then light dawned on him. 

"Oh,” he said, "how my father’s words come back 
to me.” 

"My friend,” I said, "that has served me a good pur- 
pose. I had a physician in connection with my mining 
company. Five hundred men were in his care ; it was 
i.nportant that he should be a competent man. Some- 


52 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


thing told me to ask him if he were a graduate of any 
College, and if he had an M. D. degree. He said he 
had, and produced as fine a piece of sheep skin as I 
ever saw. I looked it over. It was all right, finely 
engrossed in Latin, with his name written in old Eng- 
lish letters, with about fifteen to twenty names signed 
of all shapes, conditions and angles, with two large 
seals, a ribbon or two under half a pound of wax. It 
looked all right. I had not the opportunity in my 
younger days to learn Greek and Latin. But I re- 
membered my former experience, and I called one of 
my secretaries to go over to Dr. Oliver Llewellyn Mor- 
gan, whom I knew very well, to tell him that I wanted 
to see him as soon as possible. I showed Dr. Morgan 
the diploma. He pronounced it a bogus one. There 
was no such College, and he said one could buy these 
diplomas for from twenty to two hundred dollars, 
according to the means of the would-be possessor, 
from the firm of Nervieck and Cheette. 

“I found the possessor of the diploma knew nothing 
of medicine, and so by inquiring concerning the grant- 
ing of the certificate, I found it was not valid, and I 
saved, perhaps, several lives. Shall I proceed?’’ I 
asked. 

“Yes, yes,” Jonathan said, “go on. I begin to see 
light.” 

I proceeded: “Mr. Rees, you have noticed perhaps 
that I never attend your Chapel with Mr. Williams, 
and that I attend the parish Church?” 

“Yes,” he said, “and Betty Jones told me more than 
once you used to attend the Chapel, and that you and 
Mr. Williams and his wife got the first big Bible for 
the pulpit.” 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


53 


‘‘So I did, and if you will examine the Pulpit Bible 
you will see my name in connection with those of 
Gladys Lewis and Rowland Williams, as the ones who 
secured the Bible. It was my heaven to go to the 
Chapel. I hardly ever attended the Church. Once I 
went there as a visitor, and oh, how dismal it was ! 

“But in New York I came across a book written by 
Bishop Kip, first Bishop of California, called ‘The 
Double Witness of the Church.’ It set me thinking. 
Is the Church true? If so, how do we know? Was 
the religion of Christ like a Kingdom? If so, it should 
and could be traced to the beginning. I commenced 
to work, to think, to investigate. I was bound not to 
belong to a clande^stine) Church.’’ 


AGOR IvIvYGAID I 



54 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER IX. 

ROBERT JONES INVESTIGATING THE CHURCH. 

‘‘But how to get about it? I thought that Mr. 
Foulkes, being a preacher, ought to be able to help me. 
But I found he had the same hazy idea as most people 
of the kind. Religion was a hazy, sand chain, nebula 
kind of a thing. The Lord was good, he felt it in his 
heart. The Episcopal Church as he called it was 
popish, he said, and getting worse and worse every 
day, it had no heart religion. It was even worse than 
the Established Church at home, with more of such 
stuff. He could recognize a Clandestine Lodge, but 
he could not recognize a Clandestine Church. Why? 

‘T had to go South. My buyer had bought some 
considerable cotton. I found myself in a small town 
in Arkansas, called Morrilton. I had to go there to 
save serious trouble, as the State legislature had passed 
a law not to insure cotton. On the train I made the 
acquaintanceship of the Methodist minister. For a 
few days I was idle, and accepting his invitation to 
call I did so, and found him in his study with the 
Rector of S. Agnes’ Church, a small mission of thirty 
communicants. The Methodist minister was asking 
him about his conversion. The Rector said he never 
was converted because he had always been a Christian. 

“ ‘Then,’ said Mr. Hayes, ‘you are not saved. Un- 
less you can tell the day and hour of your conversion, 
you are not converted.’ 

“ ‘Mr. Hayes,’ said the Rector, ‘do you love your 
mother ?’ 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


55 


“ ‘Why) certainly I do/ 

“ ‘When did you begin to love her?’ 

“ ‘I never did begin to love her. I always loved her. 
Aly first sight was of her beautiful face.’ 

‘‘ ‘But,’ insisted the Rector, “when did you first love 
her?’ 

“ ‘I never did begin, as I always loved hre,’ Mr. 
Hayes said. 

“ ‘No, you don't love her, unless you can point out 
the day and the place when you loved her for the first 
time. I am ashamed of you not to love your mother,’ 
said the Rector bantingly. 

“It was a good point, and it hurt the minister. But 
he insisted that the ‘High Episcolapians,’ as he called 
the Churchmen, had no religion of the heart, etc. 

“That afternoon was stormy, and in the evening rain 
came down in torrents. I took tea with the Minister, 
and that very evening was prayer meeting night, and 
so I expected to attend the meeting. The bells of both 
the chapel and church rang; both buildings being on 
the same ‘block.’ After waiting a considerable time 
no one came to the Methodist Chapel, besides himself, 
his daughter and myself. 

“ ‘Well,’ he said, ‘let’s go to our “High Episcolapian’’ 
and see how his meeting is attended.’ 

“.When we reached the little wooden Church building 
we found, virtually, every communicant residing in the 
town present, and taking part in the service. Mr. 
Hayes was surprised, and confessed that after all this 
was a good test of religion ; and he found that his four 
hundred communicants, noisy as they may be in their 
profession, could not come up to the standard of this 
little Church, though they were modest in their pro- 
fession of heart religion. 


56 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


“This impressed me very much, and the next day I 
called upon the Rector ; who, by the way, was a native 
of South Wales, of the parish of Llandefeilog. I ex- 
plained to him my desire to investigate, and he greatly 
helped me by giving me books, and names of books to 
read. One book especially was helpful, 'Reasons for 
Being a Churchman,’ by the Rev. A. W. Little, S. T. D., 
L. H. D. 

“ 'Now, Mr. Jones,’ he said, 'let us begin at a certain 
definite period, so we can point to it and measure from 
It.’ 

'' 'That is fair,’ I said. 

, '' 'Now then begin with Christ’s own promise to His 
Apostles : ''Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end 
of the world.” ’ 

'' 'Now,’ he said, 'take this pencil and sheet of paper. 
Put down the date of this promise, say 33 A. D., pres- 
ent year 18 — . In order for Christ to be with any 
Church it must be in existence now, and must be able 
to trace its existence back unto the year 33 A. D., un- 
broken. 

'' 'We have it in the Acts of the Holy Apostles that 
the ordination and consecration were performed by 
Apostles and other men with lawful authority; and so 
down from then until the present day.’ 

''I agreed. 

'' 'And a Church to be valid must have its existence 
back to this period of 33 A. D. 

'' 'Now then apply this test. To find the quality of 
metal, whether it be of gold or not, we are told that a 
certain acid will work in a certain way on gold. You 
have the metal, apply the acid test. When was the 
oldest sect existing to-day organized, first commenced 
to exist?’ 


THE REV IVAN M. MERLINJONES, O. D., IN HIS STUDY 














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A PATRIOTIC STORY 


57 


“ 'In 1520-60/ I answered, as I had been reading a 
sermon in the 'Presbyterian,' delivered in New York 
by the Rev. McBeth McDermott, a celebrated Presby- 
terian Divine, 'and they left the Church of England in 
1573.' 

" 'True,' he said, 'and the Congregational was organ- 
ized in 1568, the Baptists in 1639, etc. Put down 33 
and over it 1520, and see how many years Christ was 
with His Church before: the Presbyterians came into 
existence. Well, then for these 1500 years, or so, 
Christ was with His Church, but could not be with 
any church before the existence of that Church. The 
same rule will apply to all others and later organiza- 
tions calling themselves Christian. And the first 
Methodist church, of which the Wesleyan is a branch, 
was organized in 1766 A. D., or seventeen hundred 
years AFTER the definite period that Christ said he 
would be with His Church.' 

"At this point the Rector was called to the death 
bed of one of his parishioners, an old lady of 96 years. 
I was left to my own thoughts ; and many indeed they 
were. The test was fair, and by all efforts I could not 
make a connection between my religious body and that 
Date, or in fact with any religious body with the ex- 
ception of the Catholic Church, which I had a vague 
idea had always existed since the days of Christ. 

"What about the Church of England? I thought. 
But then that was organized by Henry VIII, and yet 
I remembered the Rev. John Evans, in one of his few 
references to the Church while Rector of Llangwen- 
llian, said that the Church of England was the Cath- 
olic Church of the country, that it was organized in the 
first Century by S. Paul and S. Joseph of Arimathaea, 
and what King Henry VIII did was to drive the Pope, 


58 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


or Bishop of Rome, out of authority in the British 
Isles. 

“Early next day I sought my Welsh Rector, and 
begged of him to go on with his exposition. 

“ 'Well,' he said, 'have you thought over the period 
fact, and have you found any Church organization 
existing to-day which can trace its visible existence 
back to the period of the Apostles?' 

''I said I could not with the single exception of the 
Catholic Church. 

'' 'That is perfectly right and correct,' he said. 'The 
Catholic Church is the only Church to-day which has 
existed from the beginning, — the 33 A. D. — and comes 
under the promise of Christ.' 

'' 'But,' I said, T can't be a Catholic. I have read 
too much of the work of that Church in England, and 
the hatred I have for the Romish Church is burnt to 
my marrow bone, and to the very marrow bone of 
every Britisher, whether he be an Englishman, or a 
Welshman like myself.' 

''He was moved when he heard I was a Welshman. 
He grasped my hand and said that I was the first 
Welshman he had met for nearly fifteen years, and 
when he learned that I could speak Welsh he was still 
more delighted, and from now on we conversed in 
Welsh. We both sung several Welsh songs, among 
them : — 


'Newyddion braf a ddaeth i'n bro, 
Hwy haeddent gael eu dwyn ar go' — 
Fod lesu wedi cario'r dydd, 

Caiff carcharorion fyn'd yn rhydd.' 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


59 


and 

‘Bydd myrdd o ryfeddodau 
Ar doriad boreu wawr, 

Pan ddelo plant y tonau 
Yn iach o’r cystudd mawr; 

Oil yn eu gynau gwyiiion, 

Ac ar eu newydd wedd, 

Yn debyg idd eu Harglwydd 
Yn d'od iY Ian oY bedd.’ 

'‘Our hearts were full of love for Dear old Wales 
and Welsh, and both of us wept tears of hiraeth. 

“He brought out a Welsh Prayer Bood, and turned 
to the Creed: 'Credwyf yn yr Eglwys Lan Gatholig’ 
(‘I believe in the Holy Catholic Church’). 'Now, my 
dear brother,’ he said, 'look in that Dictionary for the 
meaning of the word Catholic.’ 

“So I did, and found it was a word derived from 
the Greek language and meant : universal, general, em- 
bracing the whole body of Christians ; opposite to na- 
tional which was the character of the Jewish Church. 
From the Greek word, Katholokos, universal, — kata 
throughout, holos, the whole. 

" ‘Then you hold that the Church of England is the 
Catholic Church?’ I said. 

" 'Not exactly the, but a Catholic Church. The 
Church of England is a branch of the Catholic Church, 
as the Catholic Church embraces all the different 
branches, such as the Church of Ephesus, Church of 
Jerusalem, not one was the Catholic, but different 
branches of the Catholic Church. In other words, the 
locality signifies in what part of the world that par- 
ticular branch is organized. In this country the proper 
designation is the American Catholic Church.’ 


60 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


'But what about Henry VIII organizing the 
Church of England?’ 

" 'King Henry VHI cleared the Church of England 
from the evil influence of the Bishop of Rome, who 
had usurped authority in England, and who had been 
claiming that he was the Head of the Church on earth, 
basing his claims on forged documents, which are now 
conceded by the Church of Rome itself to be forgeries, 
hut that Church retains the many advantages the 
forged documents yielded her. 

"'But, Robert bach, what is the use of talking? 
Henry VHI lived in the 16th century, and a thousand 
years bLForL that we have our own Dewi Sant. We 
know about the Welsh Bishops meeting under the Oak, 
and of their absolute refusal to submit to the Bishop 
of Rome, or to acknowledge him as having any claim 
over them and the Church in the British Isles. 

• " 'We know that the first Bishop of Rome was 

Llinus, a full blooded Welshman. We know that the 
first Christian Emperor of Rome was converted to 
Christianity in that tight little Isle. Then what is the 
use of saying that Henry VHI founded a Church 
which existed 1500 years before Henry was born? 

" 'Now,’ he says, 'take one of our great Bishops, 
say Bishop Thirwall, Bishop of S. David’s, bishop, 
scholar, statesman, who spoke the Welsh language 
fiuent'y. Look at his consecrators, and you will reach 
back to the Apostles themselves. And our own S. 
David, he was consecrated by Bishops who could trace 
their consecration back to S. John the Divine.’ 

" 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of 
the world.’ 'It is clear at last. Just as clear as the 
difference between regular and clandestine Masonry,’ 
said I. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


61 


‘One more song before we part : 

‘Dwy aden colomen, pe cawn, 

Mi grwydrwn, mi ’hedwn yn mhell ; 
I gopa bryn Nebo mi awn, 

I weled ardaloedd sydd well : 

A’m golwg tu arall i’r dwr, 

Mi dreuliwn fy nyddiau i ben, 
Mewn hiraeth i weled y Gwr 
Fu farw dan hoelion ar bren/ ’’ 

OKS Y BYD Tr IAITH GYMRAKG. 


^ CHAPTER X. 

THK KKPKCT ON JONATHAN. 

The Rev. Jonathan Thomas Rees was spell bound. 
He was listening to his own soul speaking, and to his 
own doom concerning Wesleyanism. 

The simple narrative touched him to the quick. His 
father’s saying came back to him with new and greater 
meaning. 

The validity of his ordination was tested and was 
found wanting. 

The little brook was babbling on at our feet. Here 
and there we could see the trout jumping to the sur- 
face trying to catch a fly, and over the water we 
could see “gwas-y-neidr” flying back and forth. In 
the meadow we could hear the sweet song of the sky 
lark as it floated up and up into space, and anon 
descending like a stone to its nest; we could hear 
the one familiar note of the black bird, and on the 
top of the highest branch we could see the thrush and 
Lear its sweetest melody. 


62 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


I, who had been absent so long from Dear old Wales, 
enjoyed the scenery as I left myself to fall into the 
grasp of old Memory; and the Rev. Jonathan Rees 
was in a deep, deep thought. 

How my mind wandered back to the scenes of child- 
hood. I could see myself, Gladys Lewis and Rowland 
Williams talking together and planning for the big 
Bible for the opening of the Wesleyan Chapel. 

Llangwenllian has changed, even though it remained 
the same in many things. Many of the old characters 
were dead, and their children had taken their places 
and were getting like them. Even old Azaraiah is 
dead, the old, old clochydd, who imagined the Church 
could not be kept alive without him. Poor Sally Wil- 
liams had become quite helpless. She is not able to 
leave her room now only in a wheel chair. Through 
the kindness of the Master of the Hall her house has 
been enlarged from one little room to four large com- 
fortable ones. She is attended by a young woman as 
a companion, thanks to the Rev. Mr. Morgan. The 
house is as clean as ever, though the hands of poor 
Sally are not able to clean any more. 

The Rector and the Minister visited Sally almost 
daily, and would read from the Welsh Bible and hymn 
book. At least once a week the Rector would give 
her the Communion, at which service Sally’s counte- 
nance was like what the countenance of S. Stephen 
must have been when he saw the Lord Jesus. 

All these things went through my mind, as I sat by 
the babbling brook with the Rev. Jonathan Rees in 
deep, deep meditation. His usually solemn face was 
long and mournful, his eyes staring at the water. His 
soul was in agony. He was in death and life struggle 
with temptation; his soul was wrestling with an angel 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


63 


of Jehovah and he refuses to let him go until he re- 
ceives a blessing. 

Slowly he was murmuring an old Welsh hymn of 
Morgan Rees, Caerfyrddin: 

“O! Agor fy llygaid i weled 

Dirgelwch Dy arfaeth aTh air; 

Mae’n well i mi gyfraith Dy enau 
Na miloedd o arian ac aur : 

Y ddaear a’n dan, a'i thrysorau, 

Ond geiriau fy Nuw fydd yr un; 

Y bywyd tragwyddol yw ’nabod, 

Fy Mhrynwr yn Dduw ac yn ddyn.’’ 

Slowly he came back to earth. He had triumphed. 
“Let us pray, Robert anwyl, and ask the guidance of 
God.’^ 

On our knees both of us went, and he poured forth 
his soul in agonizing petition to his heavenly Father. 
He pleaded long for light and guidance; he cared not 
where he would be led as long as he was lad by the 
Spirit of God, and then we concluded by repeating 
“Ein Tad yr hwn wyt yn a nefoedd,’’ etc. 

'‘Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch 
Fi, bererin gwael ei wedd, 

Nad oes ynof nerth na bywyd, 

Fel yn gorwedd yn y bedd : 

Hollalluog 

YdywY un a’m cwyd i’r Ian.” 

He took hold of my hand ; the evening shadows were 
falling fast, the unique Welsh twilight was setting in, — 
the lark had gone to rest, — the blackbird and the thrush 
had found their mates and were nestling quiet now, 


64 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


only the babbling of the brook, and the low mooing of 
the cows in the distant field, — but listen, the beautiful 
voice of Edith Gwen Lloyd rose on the silence of 
evening, singing with the sweet melody of the nightin- 
gale 


“lesu ! Carwr f’enaid cu ! 

I Dy fynwes gad im’ifoi, 

Tra b’o'r dyfroedd o bob tu, 

AT tymhestloedd, yn crynhoi; 

Cudd fi, O fy Mhrynwr! cudd, 

Nes T el heibioT storom gref ; 

Yn Arweinydd imi bydd, 

Nes im’ dd'od i deyrnas nef/' 

The cadences rose and fell as if an archangel were 
singing his clearest note. And then came the words 
of the old hymn in Welsh: 

“Glorious things of Thee are spoken, 

Zion City of our God; 

He whose word cannot be broken 

Formed Thee for His own abode,^’ etc. 

And one. more as if singing to the Triune God : — 

“One sole baptismal sign. 

One Lord, below, above; 

One Faith, one hope divine. 

One only watchword Love. 

From different temples though it rise. 

One Song ascendeth to the skies. 

Our Sacrifice is One, 

One Priest before the throne. 

The slain, the risen Son, 

Redeemer, Lord alone! 

And sighs from contrite hearts that bring 
Our chief, our choicest offering. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


65 


Head of the Church beneath, 

The Catholic, the true, 

On all her members breathe. 

Her broken frame renew. 

Then shall Thy perlect will be done. 

When Christians love and live as one.’’ 

We were at the gates of Paradise. Never in my life 
did I feel the Spirit of God so near as now, and 
Jonathan was weeping like a little child; and repeated 
between sobs : 

‘'Head of Thy Church beneath. 

The Catholic, the true,” etc. 

The voice of the singer ceased, — the usual quiet 
tranquility was on us again, save for the distant sweet 
melody of the nightingale. 

We rose from our knees. Jonathan took hold of 
my hand and said: 

“Thank you, brother Robert. I see light. I shall 
take three months to make a decision. Pray God that 
I shall decide according to His Will.” 

DIOCH IDDO BYTH AM GOPiO I.I.WCH Y LLAWR. 



66 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER XL 

THE) SPIRIT OF POFITICAF DISSENT. 

Great awakening was taking place in Wales. The 
old ‘^Pocket Borough” system was no longer; the 
’Squire or the Lord of the Manor could no longer dic- 
tate who should represent the Borough and County in 
Parliament. The elective franchise had been ex- 
tended, protected, thanks to the Conservative, or Tory 
party. The secret ballot had been adopted. In the 
past rich people controlled, and the rich people, as a 
rule, belonged to the Parish Church, nominally at least. 
The effect of the various reforms at first were de- 
cidedly against the Church, on that account. 

This feeling was very carefully encouraged by the 
leading Non-Conformist preachers and leaders, as they 
saw in the circumstances '^providential openings” for 
them to extend their own aggrandizement and ex- 
ploitation ; to defeat the Church at the same time. The 
pulpit, the platform and the press were unsparingly 
used to propagate the “New Nationalism ;” and “Young 
Wales” was encouragingly taught to fight the Clergy 
and the Church : in fact, it was more important in their 
view to fight the Church than to fight the devil. 

Some men among the Non-Conformists had better 
motives, and they arduously worked for the true bet- 
terment of Wales and the Welsh. Such men were 
S. R., and J. R., Llanbrynmair ; the Drs. Rees, Llan- 
elly, Swansea, Liverpool; Drs. John and William 
Thomas ; the old Welsh giant Michael D. Jones, y 
Bala ; Dr. Thomas Job, Conwil, the Rev. J. Wyndham 
Lewis, Carmarthen ; Lleurwg, Matthetes, lalwyn. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


67 


Watcyn Wyn, and others. Though of necessity these 
were not altogether unprejudiced against the Mother 
Church, and were often influenced by polemic spirit of 
Protestantism, yet their great aim was to Wales ; 
love for Wales and honest efforts on their parts to 
improve Wales. The songs of Pantycelyn, the preach- 
ing of Williams y Wern, the writings of S. and J. R., 
had the right ring of Welsh patriotism as well as devo- 
tion to the Gospel of Christ. 

From the other side giant writers and publishers 
came on behalf of the old Church of the land, but even 
these great men were not always actuated by the purest 
motives. Brutus was a giant among men, and he did 
much for the Church and Wales; but sometimes he 
would dip his pen in the wrong bottle, and vitriolic 
indeed was the consequence. And the great house of 
Spurrell must not be forgotten as defender of the 
Faith, — ever kind and active, with malice towards none 
and a bad word to no one. Spurrell indeed was a 
host and an army! 

Men on both sides were patriotic, and would will- 
ingly lay down their lives for Wales, Welsh and pro- 
gress. 

For a number of years the patrons of Welsh par- 
ishes paid no attention to the clerical appointees, and 
very, very commonly indeed, was the fact that English 
spoken priests would be made Rectors of Welsh par- 
ishes, where the parishioners, 90 per cent of them, 
understood no English beyond ^Ts syr,’’ ‘‘No, syr.” 
And the Rector could not even ask for bread in Welsh, 
if he were starving. 

The results were disastrous to the Church. In- 
stead of attending the parish Church where services 


68 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


would be said in an unknown tongue, the people would 
meet together in each other’s houses, or in barns, and 
would hold prayer meetings, and then would club 
together and build a modest Chapel to meet on Sun- 
days, where they could pray in Welsh, preach in Welsh 
and sing in Welsh. It was to the advantage of the 
preacher to retain all the people, as his salary was 
made up by the congregation. 

The Chief Shepherds were apparently asleep, until 
the preaching of the Wesleys and the Whitfields, and 
the Harris’s, stirred up the people to a realization of 
their sinful neglect; and the powerful influence of the 
Oxford Movement made itself felt in Wales. But the 
Erastian and worldly minded Bishops, many of them, 
even yet could not realize the strength of the reform, 
or revival, and they foolishly opposed it, and for this 
the whole Established Church was unmercifully 
blamed and held accountable. 

But the awakening of Wales reached into the very 
Palace of the Sovereign, and as Sees became vacant in 
Wales Welsh Priests were appointed to fill them, and 
the new order of Bishops made it imperative that 
appointees to Welsh parishes should be able to read 
and preach in Welsh. This could not be accomplished 
all at once. It took time to reach all of the parishes, 
for as a rule Rectors live long lives, especially worth- 
less Rectors. 

This reform, inst^^ad of meeting with the hearty ap- 
proval of the Dissenters, was really the cause for a 
bitterer attack on the Church than ever, as this reform 
took away the only excuse of Dissent for living; and 
for a quarter of a century the battles against the 
Church have been most bitter, and vindictive, — false- 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


69 


hood, calumny, charges of the foulest nature have been 
hurled against the clergy and the Church, until a decade 
or so ago it reached its climax. The Non-Conformist 
Evangelical preachers died, and in their places came 
Non-Conformist Political preachers. 

The '‘Haur’ and the “Llan’' have accomplished won- 
derful* things for the betterment of Wales, and the 
New Nationalism and the New Young Wales are full 
of Church ideas and ideals. The Church is gaining 
while Dissent is losing its hold over the people. Truth 
at 'ast has prevailed and is prevailing, and the Church 
again is tremendously in the affections of the people. 
But I am anticipating. 

The friendliness of the Rev. Jonathan Rees towards 
the Church as shown in closing the Chapel and advising 
his people to attend the parish Church when the new 
Rector was instituted, was properly reviewed by the 
"leaders,” not only of the Wesleyans, but of other Dis- 
senting denominations, and \vas considered ^^apprehen- 
sive,” “betrayal of principles,” and compared to Esau 
selling his birthright for “red pottage,” and other ter- 
rible delinquencies in the Old Testament. The broth- 
erly act of the minister was made an occasion for 
persecuting him. 

At the next local Conference, which* met at Wrex- 
ham, charges were brought against the Rev. Jonathan 
T. Rees, for wilful neglect of duty and the betrayal 
of his trust in omitting the usual services and attending 
instead the Established Church, thereby acknowledging 
the rights of the Rev. Evan Davies Morgan, and ac- 
cepting him as the spiritual head of the parish, which 
are contrary to the principles of Non-Conformity. But 
the real object of the charges was to get rid of the 


70 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


minister from Llangwenllian, and to depose him from 
the ministry as a warning to other weak brethren. 

No one from the Chapel of Llangwenllian, or indeed 
from the whole parish or surrounding country, would 
sign the charges, so the charges were signed by the Rev. 
Azaraiah Wilkins, an Englishman, who had charge of 
a small English Wesleyan Chapel in Wrexham. From 
his long residence in Wales he had acquired a fair 
knowledge of Welsh, and from his continued inability 
to have charge of but small churches he had also 
acquired the bad habit of being jealous of any one who 
succeeded, and could see no personal merit in any one, 
but all were in the ''ring,’’ and in the “ring” to down 
him. He had chips on both shoulders and an apple 
on his head. 

He had worked hard for a call to the Chapel of 
Llangwenllian, and as Jonathan was the successful one 
it was sufficient evidence that Jonathan had personal 
spite against him, and therefore was a worthy object 
of Azaraiah’s righteous wrath. 

The rumor of the charges brought a large attendance. 
The Dissenters are good fighters, and love "to annihi- 
late” one another nearly as well as to "annihilate” the 
Church, 

Rowland Williams was a representative from Horeb 
chapel, Llangwenllian. He had been away a great deal 
• ately, attending Parliament, and had no inkling of the 
charges until they were read. 

Rowland Williams was a man dominated by a spirit 
of f airplay, and his experience as a lad in Llangwen- 
llian, and as a struggling youth and man in America, 
in fighting powerful enemies, and especially his ex- 
perience in Parliament, where he had ample opportu- 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


71 


nities to meet 'The leaders’’ of all political schools and 
parties, gave him an unusual advantage to exercise his 
discrimination. 

Of Jonathan he had a fair knowledge. He greatly 
admired his preaching ability, and the even tenor of his 
judgment. And he was very well pleased with his 
Christian breadth of mind. 

On the other hand the Rev. Azaraiah Wilkins was a 
quick tempered, intolerant in his dealing with an oppo- 
nent ; with a voice which was not exactly cracked, and 
yet not quite a falsetto, but a cross cut between the 
two, which gave it a peculiar, tantalizing sound, as if 
some one was trying to saw California redwood with a 
rusty saw. His face showed that he was a very "sour 
oM soul.” He was "jealous,” without a saving sense 
of humor. He repelled rather than attracted. He had 
much confidence in himself, and he had long ago con- 
cluded that he was not properly appreciated. In fact, 
he had cultivated this idea to maturity that now it was 
beginning to bear fruit abundantly: people were jealous 
of his ability, and that was the real reason that he 
always was assigned to small places. 

Here he saw the chance of his life to be a leader, and 
his fame would travel throughout all Wales as a leader 
for the freedom of the Principality from such time 
servers as Jonathan the pastor of the influential Chapel 
of Llangwenllian, where the popular member of Par- 
liament Rowland Williams was a leader. And what 
then could he not get! A hero, a hero, after serving 
a life time under the thumbs of those in authority ! At 
least he would be made the next President for Eng- 
land and Wales, and would be assigned to Eglwys fach, 
the largest and most wealthy Chapel of the Wesleyans 
in Wales. With a salary of four hundred pounds 


72 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


sterling, and a glebe provided by the wealthy founder 
of the Chapel. Four hundred sovereigns a year and 
a glebe from which tithes were derived, were princely 
salaries in those simple days to Dissenting ministers, 
as indeed to most Rectors also. 

The Presiding officer was the Rev. Alexander Flu- 
vell Higginbatham, a native of Nottingham, England, 
a rich and scholarly gentleman of some ability. He 
had no love for the Welsh language, and used it very 
sparingly, — the little he knew after a residence of 
twenty years in Cardiff, Wrexham, and several other 
larger towns of the Principality. For several years he 
was an instructor in a ''College'’ near Wrexham, — in 
fact he was the President and instructor in English 
history, Greek and Latin. He had aspired to the chief 
office in the University of Wales at Aberystwyth. He 
had travelled in Germany, and for three months at- 
tended Heidel University, and brought back from there 
a Ph. D., as an addition to his name, which pleased 
him immensely, from the constant use he made of the 
letters. 

He prided himself of being very "just,” but he was 
very fond also of being on the side of the rich and 
powerful. 

When the charges were read the president was feel- 
ing very exhilarating, as he had now, he felt, an oppor- 
tunity of using his influence and of gaining a great 
name for his fearless championship of Dissent, and 
this may yet bring him his coveted prize the Headship 
of the University of Wales. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


73 


CHAPTER XII. 

MULTISONOUS DISSENTERS. 

The first to gain the eye of the presiding officer was 
the Rev. Thomas F. Phillips, a fiery Welshman from 
Ebenezer Chapel, Cymbach. He was an eloquent 
speaker, a poet, and was endowed with an unusually 
great amount of prejudice against the Church, and 
especially so since the Bishop about ten years before 
refused him as a Candidate for Holy Orders, on ac- 
count of his inability to pass the mental examination. 
Mr. Phillips was a self-made man, and as he had the 
disadvantage of not being able to see the entire man 
at the same time his fitting in some places was certainly 
unique and ludicrous, to say the least. But he was 
very proud of the job. He was a '‘good speaker,'’ his 
knowledge of the Bible was excellent, and he could 
quote extensively from the old Bards, he was a great 
follower of the Eisteddfod, and annually columns of 
the Banner ac Amserau Cymru would be filled by him 
criticising the adjudicators for awarding the Awdl 
prize to Watcyn Wyn, or Dewi Ddu, or some other 
equally “inferior bards," and not to him the author of 
an Awdl far more meritorious, according to his way 
of thinking, than the one for which the Chair was 
awarded. He never won a prize, but once in his life, 
and that once was for a hymn, and he was the only 
competitor. He was well versed in the Welsh Gram- 
mar, but English he could not abide. It was “too thin 
for his tongue." But to show his great proficiency in 
the English language, he explained one day when some 
one wanted to get the English word for “milgi," that 
it was “thousand dog." 


74 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


But to-day he was in his element, and for an hour 
or so he spoke, as he had never spoken before in his 
life. He was on the question, off the question, around 
the question, under the question; he was with Twm 
off Nant, Mabinigion; he was sitting in Cadair Idris, 
then walking with Napoleon the great liberator of 
France in Moscow; poetry was flowing like the River 
Dee, now from Ossian, once or twice actually from 
Omar Khayyam, now from his own superior poetry ; 
now in prose, once or twice from Peter Williams' 
Esboniad; Charles o’r Bala and Charles of Car- 
marthen ; various saints in and out of the Kalendar 
were called upon for remarks; he wept under the in- 
fluence of his own eloquence, and laughed at his match- 
less wit. The audience at first listened attentively, 
then laughed, wiggled, but never cried, for the humor 
of the whole thing was too pronounced. 

Rowland Williams was a study. He never smiled, — 
in fact he sat in a stupor. He had various experiences 
in America. He had met crooks like Rosencrans, but 
this was something new. Here was a professed cham- 
pion of toleration intolerant of toleration : condemning 
the very thing which he and his likes had been fighting 
to obtain ! Rowland Williams was utterly disgusted, 
angry, humiliated. Was it after all true what the 
Church leaders declared, that Dissent used the love 
of liberty as a cloak and a cant to fool the people ? 

At last the Rev. Thomas F. Phillips subsided, and a 
voice from the congregation rang out, let us sing, 

'‘Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch, 

Fi, bererin gwael ei wedd," etc. 

The Rev. Evan Jones, Ffynon Bedr, led in prayer. 
His words came forth from the depth of his heart. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


75 


He had a great reputation as a prayerer, and was in 
great demand for large gatherings — for the Gymanfa 
and dedicatory services, — and his place and part in 
those meetings consisted in making the opening prayer. 

He prayed long and earnest. He was not over 
gifted in scholarship, he couldn’t tell a problem in 
Eucdd from Halley’s comet: he knew it; there was 
no arrogancy about him. But in one thing he did 
excel, — he was often on the mount with God, and like 
Moses, his face would shine with a heavenly light. He 
had a heart bf the true follower of Christ. He was of 
the old type of Dissenters, — the prayer and not the 
political kind. His prayer may have been heard by 
the Lord, but it had no influence on some of the 
preachers present. 

The first to speak after the prayer was the Rev. 
Jeremiah Jones, and he saw in the prayer nothing else 
but the scheme of the enemy. He had seen the Rev. 
Evan Jones in company with Jonathan Rees and 
friends before the meeting began, and he insisted that 
this prayer was made in order to deceive the people 
and to cajole them ; but he for one would not be caught 
so easily. He was a man of experience, and he was 
a man of action, and belonged to the descendants of 
the third brother, and whatever he undertook to do 
that would he perform. He was now sure that the 
new parson of Llangwenllian was a jesuit in disguise, 
and that he had bewitched the dear brother of Horeb, 
and it was the duty of the Wesleyan conference to 
stand upright and to be firm, and to squelch the be- 
ginning of wrong doings of the heart and of the mind, 
or else pretty soon our young men, with college edu- 
cation, would be swallowed by the beast. He then 
counted ten young ministers of the Wesleyans, fifteen 


76 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


from the Methodists, twenty from the Congregational- 
ists, ten from the Anabaptists and five from the Primi- 
tive Methodists, who had gone over to the Church in 
North Wales alone that same year. These were all 
college educated men, and as he always has maintained, 
so he maintains now, that college education is a dan- 
gerous thing, and he was heartily opposed to it. Men 
should be called by the Holy Ghost, as he was, and he 
himself attended school but for a very short time. 

His brother, the Rev. Isaiah Jones, got up with a 
smile on his dear sweet countenance, and said he was 
tired and amused at his brother’s ''night mare,” the 
‘'Beast.” Surely he justifies his name of Jeremiah. 
But of course his dear brother has had good oppor- 
tunities to study the "beast” when he called so often 
on the good Bishop of Bangor trying to persuade his 
Lordship to ordain him a minister of the Established 
Church, — for the purpose no doubt of having a good 
opportunity to strangle the "Beast.” The good old 
Bishop told him he had too much bitterness in his 
heart, too much gross ignorance in his head and too 
much evil thoughts in his imagination to be a priest 
of the Church. 

The audience laughed at this sally. The unfriendly 
feeling between the two brothers was well known to 
the people, caused because Isaiah thwarted Jeremiah’s 
plan of taking possession of their father’s farm and 
fortune, leaving the children who were small out in 
the cold. And also the audience knew that Isaiah 
spoke the truth about Jeremiah’s many visits to the 
Bishop of Bangor. Isaiah was very fond of doing 
thus at times, so as to keep Jeremiah’s heart from 
swelling with too much pride and vanity, — much to 
Jeremiah’s discomfort. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


77 


Another brother, a small tiny bit of humanity, with 
a tremendous big voice spoke, and he was yet more 
bitter than Jeremiah, as he had a stronger voice to 
pour forth his vitriolic spleen, and poor Jonathan got 
“Hail Columbia’' from him, because he dared to close 
up the Zion of God and encouraged the parish Church 
in its new folly of plain ritualism, aping the beast on 
the Tiber. He prophesied that it would be more tol- 
erable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the great day of 
judgment than for the minister of Horeb. 

It seems that Jonathan was to receive the worse as 
all the speakers yet have been against him. Was there 
no one to speak on his behalf? He himself was quiet, 
sometimes even amused, and always appeared good 
natured. 

A little man, sitting near the door, got up and asked 
permission of the chair to speak, which was granted 
after some hesitation, being a stranger and the chair- 
man desired to show the importance of the privilege 
granted. This speaker pictured the times now and 
the times when he was a lad attending the Chapel of 
which Mr. Phillips is the minister. Then he depicted 
the condition, and the utter worldliness of the Rectors 
of the parish when he was a young man. ''Forty 
years ago I left my little Welsh home and went with 
my parents to America. There I toiled and worked, 
but gained nothing, until I went to Carson, Nevada, and 
there located a placer mine, and in five years I sold 
my interest in it for seventy-five million dollars, equiv- 
alent to about fifteen million pounds sterling, and a 
royalty of two per cent of all gold mined. A part of 
this little sum I took to educate myself, and to buy a 
good farm for my father and mother, who preferred 
to remain in America. I stayed with them until they 


78 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


left me for the World Beyond. After a course of 
years I graduated as a chemist and metallurgist. Then 
I devoted my time in searching for new inventions. I 
was induced to invest twenty thousand dollars in 
Cripple Creek, Colorado, and in four months' time the 
mine was sold and my profit amounted to ten million 
pounds, not quite as good as my first venture. So I 
was happily provided to pursue my hobby as an in- 
ventor, and perhaps you may have heard of me when 
I tell you my name is William Morris." 

A thrill went through the congregation. They were 
all acquainted with that name, and with his power and 
wealth. 

Dr. Morris went on to describe the struggles and 
battles fought for the betterment of mankind in Amer- 
ica, and gave a vivid description of the two greatest 
benefactors of the human race in America, Abraham 
Lincoln, and the powerful corporation of Trinity 
Church, New York, the vast amount of money spent 
by that corporation for the uplifting of the poor in 
New York, and throughout the States. After he re- 
turned to Wales he had been studying its religious 
condition. He had visited his old home, and he had 
found there a great improvement. Instead of English 
speaking, worldly and intolerant Saxon Rector, he 
found a good Welshman, with a good Welsh name, 
the Rev. Gwilym Goch, late of Rhosllanerchrugog 
parish. And he had noted the difiference in attendance. 
In his younger days the Church had from three to 
twelve present on a Sunday morning, nothing for the 
rest of the day, the Rector perhaps was fox hunting 
with the gentry of the parish. Even this small con- 
gregation consisted of the 'Squire, two daughters, and 
servants, with the school master of the parish school. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


79 


who led and did most of the singing by ear. The 
Wesleyan Chapel, the Anabaptist Chapel, the Congre- 
gational Chapel and the Welsh Calvinistic Chapel were 
full of earnest Christian people. ‘'On my return I 
have been to see them all. I have found the Church 
to be crowded at each service, low and high masses 
every Sunday and choral evensong. The Independent 
Chapel is now a Chapel of ease of the parish Church, 
as also the Chapel of the Calvinistic Methodists. The 
Anabaptist chapel I found has been purchased by the 
Parish and is now a reading room for the town, and 
the Wesleyan Chapel, built to accommodate fifteen 
hundred people, now has barely three dozen attend- 
ants. The first speaker here to-day is the devoted 
pastor, and I have no fault to find with him, as I 
understood that for the past ten to fifteen years the 
attendants have been decreasing as the Angel of Death 
takes the members home. So instead of one Church 
with a dozen present, I find that the parish has three 
^arge Churches, with autonomous government, all 
united in the Parish Church, — two Welsh and one Eng- 
lish services, but the Rector and two Vicars are Welsh 
scholars, together with the three Curates. 

‘T was at the services of the Church at Llangwen- 
llian when the present Rector was instituted. I had 
known something of the conditions there in earlier 
days. I met in America Mr. Williams, — the father of 
the ’Squire of the Hall and the Member of Parliament 
for the district. 

“Many an hour Mr. Williams and I spent in America 
talking over the affairs of our Old Dear Country, the 
tyranny and the intoleration of the Saxon gentry and 
Saxon ’Squires and Saxon Rectors in thorough Welsh 
parishes. I was glad to visit Mr. Williams again in 


80 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


this country, he being the nominal manager of his 
son's estate. I met his son also, whom I had heard of 
in America, but he did not know me, and I begged his 
father to be silent as I wished to make some investi- 
gations incognito. 

“I am old, and for fifty years I have endeavored to 
serve the Lord. When I left this country the only 
place of worship at Llangwenllian was the parish 
Church, and the same conditions prevailed there as in 
many other Welsh parishes. The Rector was a fox 
hunting Parson. He could not speak a word of Welsh, 
and although on Communion Sunday, about once or 
twice a year quite a number would attend to receive 
the Sacrament, on other Sundays hardly a dozen would 
be present. 

•'But a change has come over the parish and the 
Diocese; even the Lord Bishop then was an English- 
man, with no love for Welsh traditions, — but now you 
have one of the greatest thinkers and workers of the 
age, and a thorough Welshman as Bishop, and the 
newly instituted Rector of Llangwenllian is also a 
Welshman, and is both a chaired and a crowned Bard 
of the Ancient Gorsedd. 

'T attended the services of Institution, and I tell you 
my friends I was glad to be there, for besides the 
Rev. Jonathan Rees and members of Horeb Chapel, 
God was also present, and you may just as well bring 
charges against God as to bring charges against this 
preacher." 

There was a tremendous stirring among the dele- 
gates and congregation. 

The old man went on, growing in power and influ- 
ence as he warmed up to his subject. He finished with 
this significant remark : — 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


81 


“There was a time when Dissent was necessary. 
God used our fathers to discipline His Church. The 
Church has been taught the lesson, she has reformed. 
There is no nEKd or mission for Dissent to-day, there 
is no excuse for its existence at the present time, and 
therefore, like all useless or unnecessary things in 
nature, it must cease, it must die, it must perish.’' 

The effect of Mr. Morris' speech was electrical. 
Rowland Williams and the congregation cheered and 
then sang, 

“Dyma gariad fel y moroedd, 

Tostoriaethau fel y lli',’’ etc. 

The former speakers Phillips, Jeremiah Jones, and 
also the presiding officer were visibly confused, while 
Isaiah Jones was beaming happily over his brother’s 
confusion. ^ 

The first on his feet was Rowland Williams, M. P., 
and in a ten minute fervent speech moved that the 
charges be dismissed, and that this conference ex- 
presses its joy and thanksgiving to Almighty God for 
the awakening of the Church in Wales, to which 
Church Wales is indebted like England for its great- 
ness among the nations of the earth. And also that 
this Conference pledges its help to the awakened 
Church. This was seconded by the Rev. Josiah Lloyd, 
M. A., D. D., minister of the great Chapel at Wrexham. 
Dr. Lloyd's brief speech was thoughtful, solemn for 
him, and full of love for the Mother Church and for 
all Christian efforts to convert sinners and to develop 
the characters of the converts in Christian graces. 

A few more ineffective efforts of Phillips and Jere- 
miah brought the discussion to a close. The Resolu- 
tions of Mr. Williams were put, and overwhelmingly 


82 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


carried. The congregation was moved as one man 
and they sang the following beautiful hymn of Islwyn : 

'‘O ! Arwain fi iTh nefol flfyrdd, 

Yn nghanol temtasiynau fyrdd; 

Yn awr y brofedigaeth ddu, 

Dragwyddol Ysbryd! arwain fi. 

Pererin wyf yn mhell o’m gwlad, 

A’m golwg ar drigfanau ’Nhad — 

Pererin rhwng gelynion lu : 

Dad pererinion! arwain fi. 

O ! arwain fi Y hyd llwybrau hedd, 

Yn ufudd mwyach hyd fy medd ; 

Drwy Y olaf brofedigaeth ddu, 

Yn orfoleddus, arwain fi. 

Rhyw anial erchyll yw y byd, 

A maglau ei bleserau i gyd : 

Yn gywir iY Baradwys fry, 

’R hyd ffordd sancteiddrwydd, arwain fi. 

Trwy ddyfnion donau angeu af 
Dan ganu, os Dy gwmni gaf ; 

Nes cyraedd glan y Canaan gu ; 

O ! lor anfeidrol, arwain fi 

Y GWIR YN ERBYN Y BYD. 



A PATRIOTIC STORY 


83 


CHAPTER XIIL 

THK RISK AND KALK OK THK ANTI-TITHINGS. 

Wales was stirred to the very core. What" had 
taken place in such parishes as Llangwenllian, Ruthin, 
Llangollen, Wrexham, Llanfynydd, Rhosllanerchru- 
gog, Brymbo, had taken place in scores of other par- 
ishes throughout the Principality. Whenever a Rector 
or Vicar would die, or give up his title, Welsh priests 
were appointed, as Welsh Bishops were replacing 
English prelates, throughout Gwalia. Of course doz- 
ens and dozens of parishes were not so fortunate, as 
their English speaking parsons would cling to life and 
title, — and with the infirmities of old age, added to the 
inability of the tongue, and the disinclination of the 
heart, the affairs of the parishes would be in a direful 
condition, and the Dissenters were gaining there at the 
expense of the misfortunes of the Church; and no 
opportunity to gain was ever neglected by the leaders 
of Dissent. 

But the number of parishes transferred from the 
Erastian to active centres of preaching, working and 
teaching was slowly but surely increasing. And with 
this activity in the transformed parishes a number of 
schools for the poorer class sprang up all over the 
country, established and carried on mainly through 
the activity of Churchmen and Churchwomen. The 
Education Acts of 1870 introduced the principle of 
compulsory attendance at school ; but as the Education 
Acts made no provision for feeding the childreh the 
\ romoters of these schools had also to provide food. 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


84 

The schools were intended for all irrespective of re- 
ligious affiliations, — and, as may be surmised, these 
were primarily intended for the poorer children, hav- 
ing day and night sessions. Tuition, books, and all 
necessaries were supplied free. And whenever a child 
was found, and diligent search was continually made, 
whose parents were too poor to feed or clothe the child 
properly, the parishioners would freely supply the 
needs. Hundreds and thousands of chiMren were 
rescued from evil lives, who grew up to be men and 
women, — useful in the community through these ef- 
forts. Dissent as a rule was too busy with its own 
existence to be of much help to these schools. 

Then again the parishes thus blessed with native and 
active priests bestirred themselves regarding the 
Sunday-school. And thus surely, though seemingly 
claudicantly, did the work of the Church grow. 

At first the Dissenters did not notice the change, so 
gradual it was, and so engrossed were they with 
their own schemes to injure the Church as not to leave 
them much time to note the wonderful changes, and 
though by and by some did take note, yet the majority 
did not see or did not believe the changes would be 
permanent, so accustomed were the people to the 
chronic neglect of the Fabian prelates and English 
speaking priests. But at last the tide was too high 
and forceful to be ignored, and many a Chapel found 
itself marooned. 

The session which ended in the overwhelming de- 
feat of Phillips, Wilkins, Higginbatham and Jeremiah 
Jones, at Wrexham, was also the means of calling 
special attention to the mighty inroads made by the 
Church. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


85 


Phillips, Wilkins, Higginbatham and Jeremiah 
Jones undoubtedly were overwhelmed, yet they were 
not subdued; indeed they became more bitter, and at 
once looked around for dire revenge. 

For immediately at the close of the session these 
men, with other invited kindred spirits, held a meeting 
at the Cross Hands Inn, — a favorite place with the 
D’ssenters in Wrexham, where generally visiting 
preachers put up. 

At this meeting there was no discussion. It was 
certainly a mutual admiration society. The men were 
chafing under their futile effort and their crushing 
('efeat, and with their radical guests were resolved to 
go to any measure to harrass and defeat the Church. 
Of the fifteen invited eight were Socinians, two out 
and out infidels, one belonged to the Anabaptists, three 
to the Independents and one to the Calvinistic Meth- 
odists. 

The meeting was held in the large parlor upstairs. 
The men were well supplied with ‘"deacons,” and soon 
the room became as cloudy as their own brain. 

Higginbatham could not understand Welsh enough 
to carry on a conversation, and Jeremiah Jones and 
Phillips could not do so in English. This at first 
promised to be a serious obstacle. But as most of the 
men were really one-tongued individuals, it was de- 
cided to carry on the business in Welsh, and the chief 
things would be translated to Higginbatham by Wil- 
kins and others. Higginbatham had to be reckoned 
with as he was the man with the money, — and was 
ambitious. 

After an hour’s release of the “safety valves,” when 
their spleen had been reduced below “danger mark,” 
they settled down to business against the “Beast.” 


86 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


It was determined to organize an Anti-Tithe Society, 
to be named “The Society in Defence of the People/’ 

The Society had really two objects, — one for the 
Public and the other for Private use only of the mem- 
bers, and this latter was the chief object of the pro- 
moters. 

First the Apparent Public Object: That these men 
were actuated by high sense of duty and religious pa- 
triotism, and were banded together to assist their fel- 
low brethren whose conscience would not permit them 
to feed the Beast by paying tithes. 

The other and true object, which of course was 
sedulously guarded from the public, was to stir up 
strife between tenants and uanduords: to visit Dis- 
senting farmers for the purpose of urging them to re- 
fuse paying tithes and rents, — holding before them the 
grand and glorious fame which would surely be theirs ; 
— and there is no other men on the face of the globe 
who will do so much for the glory of fame as the 
Welshman, as long as he believes it is his duty. 

In order to carry out the real object of the Society 
elaborate plans were effected, and an active campaign 
instituted, — the eight Socinians and the two Infidels 
contributing liberally for the reason that they saw the 
END of Trinitarianism and of RELIGION with THE over- 
throw OF THE Church. 

At subsequent meetings Cardiganshire was selected 
as the best field to carry out the scheme of the “No 
Tithe and No Rent Campaign,” — with cases here and 
there throughout Wales as could be secured without 
trouble. 

Paid agents were engaged, — five receiving regular 
salaries, with liberal adowances for “expense.” These 
paid agents were supposed to be men, under deep sense 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


87 


of duty, giving their time and talent free from a deep 
conviction of the sin and iniquity of the tithe system, 
and in the name of God and Country they were ready 
to sacrifice all for conscience:. Two of the agents 
were unbelievers in the Christian religion. 

Meetings were held simultaneously in many parts of 
Cardiganshire under the auspices of the Society in De- 
fence of the People by these paid agents, with the val- 
ued assistance of as many local ministers as possible. 
Tenants were personally visited by these agents accom- 
panied by ministers, and were urged to take a brave 
stand for Liberty, Freedom, as their noble forefathers 
did ; as Owen Glandwr, and Llewellyn Ein Llyw Olaf 
did against the hated Saxons. Then when tenants 
were persuaded not to pay the rent and the tithes, these 
agents would send trusted emissaries to the landlords 
urging them to self -protect ion, pointing out to them 
their duty to the Country as law abiding citizens, the 
majesty of the Law must be maintained or the country 
would be in an anarchic condition soon, and that meas- 
ures should be taken to compel these delinquent tenants 
to pay their honest debts according to solemn agree- 
ment. In many cases guileless clergymen were the 
messengers to the landlords at the behest of the agents. 

So by egging on both sides serious troubles would 
be sure to ensue. In fifty per cent of the cases the 
landlords would, much against their own inclination, be 
persuaded by the emissaries of Dissent to instruct their 
lawyers to enforce payments, — to evict, that was the 
favorite term. 

At the end of the week the Tyst aT Dydd, Y Gol- 
euad, Taran y Gweithwr, Banner ac Amserau Cymru, 
Seren Gymru, would reach their subscribers with full 
reports, page after page, of the horrible crime of evic- 


83 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


tions, — how the women and children were evicted from 
their homes because the fathers and husbands were 
actuated by their conscience not to pay the sinful tithes 
and rents to alien landlords, yea, to the Beast, the 
Church. These reports were made by a regular pub- 
licity department of the Society for the Defence of the 
People. 

RYDER YN NUW. 



A PATRIOTIC STORY 


89 


CHAPTER XIV. 

THK rise: and FADD of THE) ANTI-TITHINGS. 

The country was wild from one end to the other. 
It was some time before the daily papers could get at 
the true facts, as Cardiganshire was more inaccessible 
than any other part of the Principality ; and it was 
the hardest thing in the world for a reporter to get any 
information from the people themselves, as they were 
terrorized, and dire vengeance was threatened to any 
who would “talk too much.’’ 

But here and there curious incidents would take 
place, which at last broke up the infamous intrigue. 
For example : — 

Henry Jenkins, Pen-y-coed farm; John Jones, 
Ystradfawr; Thomas Lewis, Ty’r Eglwys; John Jones, 
Pibwr Wen, and Henry Davies, Llwyndu farm, were 
driving in their wagons, on the way to Aberayron, to 
pay their rents and tithes, as the custom was. They 
were met by some of the paid agents, accompanied by 
the Rev. Silas Jones, a well known and popular Dis- 
senting preacher. They were urged not to pay their 
rents and tithes, and they were guaranteed that the 
Society for the Defence of the People would be respon- 
sible for any expense connected with the case. After 
getting the Anti-tithers’ promise in black and white, 
and properly signed and witnessed by the Rev. Silas 
^ Jones, the worthy farmers at once became victims of 
their conscie:nce:s, and they refused to pay rents and 
tithes. And there were great rejoicings in the camp 
of Dissent. 


90 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Legal proceedings were instituted and in time the 
Bailiff was instructed to evict, and to sell enough of the 
cattle, or some other property, to cover the amounts of 
rents, tithes and costs. 

This was splendid. Hitherto isolated cases were 
secured, and those at great expense, for the farmers 
were reluctant to sacrifice themselves after all. But 
here were five farmers, tried and true, all in a bunch, 
and five farmers with farms adjoining one another. 
The Tyst a’r Dydd was full of it. Seren Gymru forgot 
to discuss the sin of sprinkling, so full was its pages 
with an account of the Crime of the ages, and with 
dire articles on the institution responsible for the 
CRIME, meaning of course the Established Church. 
Taran y Gweithwr had turned into a two edged Sword, 
and the ponderous Banner ac Amserau Cymru had 
doubled its pages, — with most sensational description 
of the tyranny of the Church, the sacrifice for con- 
science’ sake of the farmers, noble men indeed they 
were, and a blood curdling description of the need of 
the wives and children, with a full cut of each '‘noble 
farmer martyr,” who were fighting against the great 
tyranny. The Goleuad and the host of them were up 
with the procession. The people of Wales were 
aroused, even loyal children of the Church were 
greatly disturbed. Excursions were run from all 
parts of the surrounding country, — from Carmarthen, 
Llanelly, Swansea, and even from Merthyr Tydvil and 
Aberdare, and Cardiff, and from places of the north, 
to witness the "Eviction” and auction. Large numbers 
of Constables were commissioned to keep the peace, 
and even a Company of the famous Welsh Fusiliers 
were ordered to be present to quell any riot. 

The fateful day arrived at last. Ten to twelve 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


91 


thousand people were present from all parts of the 
Principality. A platform had been built for the auc- 
tioneer and his corps of assistants. The auctioneer 
was Bailiff Anthony. He had a voice life a fog horn 
of an Atlantic steamer, and could make himself easily 
heard over the vast assemblage; — and he was rather 
witty for a Bailiff, too. 

The hired agents of the Anti-Tithes society were up 
to their usual tactics. One, the Rev. Thomas J. Davies, 
Pwllteg, got up to make a speech, but before speaking 
he wanted the people to sing '‘God Save the Queen, 
so as to prove himself a patriot, and that he and his 
co-workers were actuated by patriotic spirit. 

And after a terrible harangue against the injustice of 
the tithes, and the praise these honest, conscientious 
tenants deserved, he fairly howled that an institution 
which was responsible for these outrageous evictions 
should be torn to pieces, and should not be permitted 
to exist in this day of grace and civilization. He 
finished in the midst of applause, hurrahs and hand 
clapping, which continued fully half an hour. 

After this orator, the Rev. Thomas James Davies, 
Calvinistic Methodist, Pwllteg, was through, our old 
friend Dr. William Morris got up on the platform, and 
demanded his legal rights to know before he would bid 
who were the landlords, and to whom were the tithes 
payable. He had a wicked wink in his left eye, and 
he gave a smile which would not come off. He is up 
to some mischief. 

Then the Bailiff as the law provided announced in 
his commanding voice that the owner of the property 
was Thomas Jones Mostyn, Esq., a deacon, — Blaenor 
— in the Methodist Chapel, of Brynteg, and that the 
tThes were payable to Trefecca College of the Calvin- 


92 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


istic Methodists, as originally willed and bequeathed to 
Trefecca College by Henry Jones, Esq., of Plas Mawr, 
some fifty years before, and to be paid to Trefecca 
College as long as ‘'water runneth.” 

There was a hush, the terrible hush before a storm, 
— then there was a blast, a howl, — and the dickens to 
pay. The Rev. Thomas James Davies was taken hold 
of by the people, and carried to the platform, and 
made to take back what he said against the Church. 
The agents were arrested for conspiring, after the five 
tenants had come forward and showed the Bailiff and 
Chief Constable the written agreement they had with 
the agents as representing the Society for the Defence 
of the People. One of the tenants was an excellent 
speaker, with a voice which would rival the fog horn 
of the Bailiff, John Jones, Pibwr Wen. He related the 
whole story to the multitude, how he and his four 
friends were on their way to Aberayron to meet the 
agent of the estate there as is the custom, and how the 
agents of the Society got them to refuse payment. He 
told the people of the dire threats that the agents made 
if he and his friends would pay either their rent or 
their tithes ; that their cows would be mutilated, their 
horses killed and their barns destroyed. Then he re- 
lated the promises made if they would co-operate with 
the Anti-Tithes people; and then he read the agree- 
ment. He^ concludede in a few but well chosen sen- 
tences and called upon the people of Wales, whether 
they were Dissenters, like himself, or Churchmen, to 
put an end to such disgraceful doings and to such 
hypocrites as evidently the members of the Society for 
the Defence of the People were. 

His speech was electric. Cheer after cheer went up. 
The Rev. Thomas James Davies, the paid agents, and 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


93 


the leaders of the Anti-Tithes Society who were pres- 
ent, trembled like leaves. They were surrounded by 
the constables and soldiers for protection. The five 
tenants came forward again, and paid their rents and 
tithes to the Bailiff, and the Society for the Defence 
of the People had to pay nearly £150 in costs. 

Then the air again was rent as the vast multitude 
sang the old Welsh hymn: — 

'‘The Church of our fathers, long founded and old, 
The Cross on her banner she still will uphold ; 

The prayers of her saints, like incense shall rise, 

Her glad songs resound to the skies; 

Home, Home, Home of our fathers of old. 

May she at last, when earth is past. 

In heaven Thine own presence behold.’’ 

The daily press contained full reports of this won- 
('erful day; but the Tyst a’r Dydd, Tarian y Gweithwr, 
Banner ac Amserau Cymru, had not a word on the 
subject, but were discussing grave problems of an- 
tiquity, and were solemnly discussing the momentous 
question who was the greatest preacher, Evans, 
Ffynonhenry, Davies y Go’s Bren, or Ismael Jones. 

The paid agents of the Society were arrested for 
conspiracy, and as in most cases some of them turned 
states evidence, and brought forth a long list of the 
leaders of the movement. Several were convicted and 
sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and trans- 
portation, — including the Rev. Thomas F. Phillips, and 
several leading ministers left hurriedly for America and 
Australia, to save their freedom. 

This was practically the ending of the tithes agita- 
tion in Wales. 


PY KGIvWYS — NI ALG Ejl GWRTHS^I^YLI.. 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


94 


CHAPTER XV. 

THE beginning of THE END USEFUL BOOKS. 

The Rev. Jonathan Rees, directly the Conference 
ended, went home to Llangwenllian, and the next day 
he sought me for my advice. 

His plan was to go to the 'Squire, as he was the 
chief Leader of his chapel, to lay the whole case before 
him, with all the data he had gathered, and with my 
exposition, as he was pleased to call my talk with him, 
and to ask his careful consideration and advice. 

Knowing Rowland so well, and glad of this oppor- 
tunity of getting him to study the question from a short 
range, I advised him to carry out his plan. 

The only thing in the world Rowland and I dis- 
agreed upon was this question of the Church. At 
first after my conversion I was glad to be in the Church 
myself, and did not bother myself much about others; 
but now the affairs of the country were such that a 
man who has love for the good and the noble and and 
the truth cannot be quiet, and I was getting excited, 
with all the thrilling movements around, and for the 
first time I felt really the thirst of getting my best 
friend to examine into the question. I was satisfied 
that he was a Wesleyan from youthful prejudice 
against the Church, as I had been, and I was also per- 
fectly satisfied that if Rowland Williams would exam- 
ine into the matter that he would be a Churchman in a 
little while. 

Rut neither Jonathan nor myself knew much of the 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


95 


real inside of the question, so we decided to call on 
the Rev. Mr. Morgan, the Rector, for his aid. 

Jonathan was not adverse to this. Events had made 
it impossible for him to cad at the Rectory for two 
weeks, — in fact he had not seen Miss Lloyd since the 
day he offered her his hand and heart. 

So to the Rectory we went. Mr. Morgan had been 
called to Bangor to see the Lord Bishop. He would 
be back to-morrow. Mrs. Morgan, and her four 
charming little children, and also Miss Lloyd, to Jon- 
athan’s delight, were home. 

Jonathan was timid, and his usual flow of language 
was badly impaired. His experience had left a deep 
impression on him. He never. had anticipated such an 
opposition. He himself was pure and he acted from 
the noblest motives, he was a stranger to the conniv- 
ance of friends. 

Mrs. Morgan referred briefly to the conference and 
offered her congratulations for his stand, and was 
heartily grateful that the charges were so quickly and 
effectively dismissed. 

Miss Lloyd was reading a book when we entered, 
and to avoid too many compliments Jonathan foolishly 
asked what book she was reading, hoping it might be 
a novel, or one of the classics, so as to get some theme 
of conversation ; but to his surprise she said, 'The 
Heart of Catholicity,’ a book written by the Rev. Frank 
N. Wescott, a priest of the American Church, just pub- 
lished in America. Would you like to read it, and an- 
other book, ‘Catholic Principles,’ by the same author?” 
she asked, and at the same time offering both to Jon- 
athan, which he took, promising to read both. 

Thus encouraged, I ventured to remark that we had 
come to see Mr. Morgan on a kindred subject, — the 


96 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Church, and before we knew it we were discussing the 
subject with the two ladies. We gained much infor- 
mation, much of it was new to me, and a great deal 
more was new to Jonathan. Among other things Miss 
Lloyd said that unhappily it was only too true that the 
Church in Wales had been neglected by those in au- 
thority. The Church in England had also been neg- 
lected, but with this great difference: that whatever 
may be said of the morals of the Bishops in England, 
they spoke the language of the people, and the parish 
priests there also spoke the same language as their 
parishioners; but in Wales the case was different, — the 
Bishops and priests, 95% of them, could not speak a 
word of Welsh, while very, very few indeed of the 
people of the parish could speak a word of English. 

But she said that happily this was now being reme- 
died as far and as quickly as possible, and though the 
Church would suffer for years and maybe generations 
from the stupidity and sin of the neglect, yet it was the 
plain duty of all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ to 
take the whole matter into consideration and to rejoice 
with the Church that at last she is active. 

Then she told us that the Church was not supported 
by the State, more than Trefacca College was sup- 
ported by the State because the college is receiving 
tithes from the Jones estate. We were interested in 
this. The tithes were given by the owners, and are 
now the property of the Church just as much as the 
tithes on the Jones estate are the lawful property of 
Trefacca College, or this village is the property of Mr. 
Williams, and as he is free to will or deed a part of it 
for the support of Church or College, so our fore- 
fathers had the right to do the same thing. 

This was decidedly new to Jonathan, and somewhat 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


97 


new to me, as we had been taught that the State sup- 
ported the Church. But as Miss Lloyd was a lady I 
did not like to question her statement, and I know 
Jonathan would not contradict her for the world, so we 
brought the matter to a close, promising to call the 
next day to see her brother. 

We had enough food for reflection. We hastened 
to Jonathan’s study, and we read more than half of the 
books before we left it. He was reading '‘The Heart 
of Catholicity,” and I was devouring “Catholic Prin- 
ciples. ” The next day we finished the books and then 
we exchanged and finished the other book by next day. 
We were too much absorbed in the books to keep our 
promise to meet Mr. Morgan the day we expected, — 
just as well, for he did not return for three days. 

The two books contained wonderful information, 
which we had to accept or give good reasons for reject- 
ing them. For myself I was ready to accept, as I had 
been in the Church for nearly fifteen years ; but Jon- 
athan was not ready to assent to the inevitable conclu- 
sion ; — his head indeed was persuaded, but his heart 
clung to the old order of things. 

In order to present our case to Mr. Morgan we felt 
that the better way would be to limit our inquiry to a 
definite plan, so we agreed on the following : 

1. Conceding: All professors of religion were sin- 
cere in their professed belief and were true to their 
convictions ; 

2. Conceding: Christ had lived, died and rose 
again according to the Scriptures ; 

3. Conceding : The narratives we possess of Christ, 
the Gospel, and the history of the immediate Apostles, 
the Acts, to be true; the undeniable proof that Christ 
spoke of “His Church “I will build my Church 


98 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


“The gates of hell cannot prevail agaisnt the Church/* 
That He compared His Church to a kingdom. In the 
Parable of the man without a wedding garment, we find 
something visible to the human eye. This wedding- 
garment could not mean “heart religion,'’ as some 
would have us believe, as that would not be visible, — he 
undoubtedly refused to wear the garment furnished by 
the host for such an occasion to his guests, as was the 
oriental custom or usage ; 

4. Conceding: Therefore this Church must have 
some means of identification, or some visible marks 
which may be seen, kenned and recognized by the ordi- 
nary person: 

Question : Granting the above are correct, what are 
the marks of the true Church? For evidently there is 
a way to identify the true Church, for Christ tebs 
us to “hear the Church." 

Armed with this plan we visited the Rector. He 
received us kindly, and when we had told him our mis- 
sion he was very amiable and showed a willingness to 
comply with our request, accepting in good faith that 
we were dominated by the desire of arriving at the 
truth, and to follow it wherever the Truth may lead. 

The Rector bade us pray, and he offered appropriate 
collects from the Prayer Book, and the three of us 
joined in reciting the Lord's Prayer. The Rector ac- 
companying us on the harp, we sung, in Welsh, trans- 
lation of 

“Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom. 

Lead Thou me on! 

The night is dark, and I am far from home. 

Lead Thou me on ! 

Keep Thou my feet ! I do not ask to see 

The distant scene ; one step enough for me. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


99 


1 was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou 
Shouldst lead me on; 

I love to choose and see my path ; but now 
Lead Thou me on! 

I loved the garished day ; and, spite of fears, 
Pride ruled my will : remember not past years. 

So long Thy power hast blest me, sure it still 
Will lead me on 

O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till 
The night is gone; 

And with the morn those angel faces smile. 
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.’' 

KIN CADARN DWR. 




100 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER XVI. 

THL FOUR MARKS OF THE) CHURCH. 

The Rector read our plan of inquiry, and said he 
was pleased that it was so mapped out, as the ques- 
tion was confined really : Conceding that God estab- 
lished a Church on this earth. Where is that Church 
to-day ? What are the Marks whereby we may recog- 
nize her? 

He was pleased with our first concession, as he said 
that one great common fault with Dissenters was to 
assume that those in opposition, as the Clergy of the 
Established Church, were insincere, and false to thei^ 
convictions. “We should give credit to our oppo- 
nents,’' he said, of being as true as we are ourselves. 
But the trouble, after all, has been that those who do 
not believe in the sincerity of others judgs others by 
themselves. 

“The second and third concessions are evident to all 
who are capable of independent thought. 

“The fourth and the Question are really the pith of 
the whole inquiry. 

“We Church people have been accused that we are 
not very fond of the Bible, which of course, is absurd. 
We take the Bible for what it is worth. We neither 
over-estimate nor lower its true value ; we neither place 
it on a pedestal to worship it, nor do we place it on the 
parlor table to stay there undisturbed. We cannot 
accede to the fetich cry of Dissent and say, ‘The Bible 
and the Bible only is our Religion.’ 

‘^“To' show our appreciation of the Bible I am going 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


101 


to refer you to it, for in it we have the Great Marks 
by which the true Church may be recognized. 

“Now turn to Acts ii, 42 : ‘And they continued stead- 
fastly in the Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in 
the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.’ This is 
said of those who joined the new Church. 

“Here we have pour marks; and the organization 
existing to-day having these Four Marks is the True 
Church. And by force of argument therefore any 
organization lacking these Four Marks cannot be the 
true Church . 

“In order these Four Marks are, 

1. Doctrine, 

2. Fellowship, 

3. Breaking of Bread, 

4. The Prayers. 

“1. Doctrines. The Evangelical doctrines, as we 
are ready to admit, are accepted by the great majority 
of the leading denominations. This is seen in the 
fact that the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed 
are accepted. We will say nothing of the S. Athana- 
sius’ Creed, as that is philosophical, and can be under- 
stood only by the learned in philosophy. This is not 
strange. This form of the Creed is in keeping with 
God’s revelation to us in the Bible, as it, too, has its 
philosophical books, as we may call them. The Old 
Testament has its wonderful predictions of Daniel, 
Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah; and the New Testament 
has its abstruse Apocalypse, and so has the Church her 
opaque form of the Creed. 

“The great Standard of the Apostles’ Doctrine is 
the two-fold Creed, which we are glad to admit are 
accepted by the leading Christian denominations. 


102 


RECLAxMATION OF WALES 


“2. The Second Mark is Fellowship, that is the 
‘Apostolic Succession,' as it is called to-day. 

“This, perhaps, is one of the most misunderstood 
phrases in our ecclesiology, it ranks with the common 
misunderstanding of the word Catholic." 

“Do you mean to say that the priests of your Church 
are successors of the Apostles in righteousness, integ- 
rity of character and in being inspired by the Spirit of 
God? And in faith and holiness?" asked Jonathan. 

‘'By no means. This is not the meaning of the 
‘Apostolic Succession,’ but I am aware that this is the 
construction placed on it by Dissenters. Apostolic Suc- 
cession is a phrase used to denote the derivation of 
Holy Orders by an unbroken chain of transmission 
from the Apostles, and a Succession of Ministry so 
ordained to the powers and privileges of the Apostles. 
The Catholic Church teaches that its present Bishops 
have the right to ordain Deacons and Priests and to 
consecrate Bishops in virtue of being the representa- 
tives of the Apostles, who in their turn represented the 
Lord Himself, the fountain of all grace; and further 
that the Lord commited this right or power to His 
-Vpostles only, that it might be transmitted to all future 
ages of the Church through them, next through Bishops 
ordained by theme, then by the Successors in regular 
order. Please examine the following verses of the 
Bible in connection with this: S. Matthew xvi, 19; 
xviii, 18, seq. ; S. John xvii, 19; xx, 23 ; Acts ii, 42. 

‘‘Trustees are appointed to an institution of learning, 
with power to fill vacancies in the board by reason of 
death, resignation, or otherwise. The institution is 
five hundred years old, and still it is governed by the 
same Board of Trustees, though the original persons 
comprising the Board have been dead for centuries, yet 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


103 


the present individuals were appointed by Trustees 
who had been appointed by other Trustees, and so 
back to the First Trustees. Such is Apostolic Succes- 
sion, the present Bishops and Priests can trace their 
ordination back from one Bishop to another until the 
times of the Apostles. 

''Now have I made this clear?'’ 

"Indeed, Brother Morgan, you have given me the 
first clear idea of what is meant by Apostolic succes- 
sion. In our seminaries we are taught that it is a 
myth and a fond dream of assumption,” answered 
Jonathan. 

"3. The Third Mark is the Breaking of the Bread. 
Ifoly Communion, called by various names in the Eng- 
lish Prayer Book, and common talk of the people, such 
as Mass, Lord's Supper, Eucharist, Mystery, Sacrifice. 

"4. Prayers, or as the proper translation is, given 
in the Revised Version, ‘the prayers,' referring to 
Liturgic Worship. 

"The meaning of words is established. We cannot 
take words used four hundred years ago, and give 
them the meaning of the present day usage. We must 
find the meaning of words at the time they were used 
in order to get the exact meaning desired to be con- 
veyed. This is true both of the original words of the 
Bible as well as of the translated words. 

"For example: To-day to 'prevent' means to stop. 
‘I will prevent you from doing that.' But four hun- 
dred years ago it means the exact opposite. 'Prevent 
us, O Lord, in all our doings,’ does not mean 'Stop us,’ 
but we ask the Lord to go before us. Read the Col- 
lect for the 17th Sunday after Trinity, and see how 
beautiful it is when we understand what 'prevent’ 
means: 'Lord, we pray Thee that Try grace may al- 


104 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


ways prevent and follow us, and make us continually 
to be given to all good works : through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen.’ 

^'The above are the Four Marks of the Church as 
given in the New Testament. Organizations may have 
one, two or even three of the above Marks and sti'l 
lacking the Fourth are therefore not the true Church. 

“Now for example: The leading Denominations 
have the First, and Third Marks, but they have not the 
Second and Fourth. Some have the First, Third and 
Fourth, but not the Second, like the Irvingites, and 
therefore lacking one Mark they cannot be the true 
Church. 

“Some have the Second but lack the First, as many 
of the heretical sects in early Church history. 

“If I am looking for the heir of an estate, and if the 
real heir has four marks by which he may be identified 
how, could any one having but one, two or even three 
marks but lacking the fourth could be expected to re- 
ceive the estate. Suppose that the real heir was born 
sixty years ago, would you declare a man born twenty 
years ago the heir ? He may have all the other marks, 
but he lacks forty years in age. That alone would be 
enough to reject him as the heir, whom we absolutely 
know MUST be sixty years of age.’' 

That was plain to Jonathan, as I had touched upon 
the same thing before ; and it agreed with his father’s 
definition of a regular and clandestine lodge of Masons. 

“What Church organization is there to-day which 
can successfully claim this mark of AGE? 

“Can the Methodists do that? Can the Wesleyans? 
Can the Anabaptists? Can the Congregationalists ? 
Can the Church of England? 

“We know that Methodism was organized by the 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


105 


Rev. John Wesley, a Priest of the Church, in the 
eighteenth century ; we know that Congregationalism 
was perfected in the seventeenth century, and we 
know that the oldest denomination to-day was organ- 
ized in the sixteenth century. And no man versed 
in the elementary part of history will deny this. 

“Knowing then the ages of the oldest organizations, 
we conclude positively that each of these lacks the 
Second Mark, the Fellowship of the Apostles, by at 
least 1,500 to 1,700 years. 

“But there is one other organization claiming to 
possess ALL the marks of identification ; and that is 
the Holy Catholic Church of Great Britain and Ireland. 
Please be careful to understand that by Cathodic is 
meant not the Roman, Papal or Papist Church in 
England, but the very Church oe England. And 
this is the only religious Body among the English 
speaking world which can absolutely and positively 
trace its roots- back to the times of the Apostles, with- 
out A BREAK. 

“I have no time to introduce evidence here. This 
you may have by consulting any history of England. 
I refer you especially to Blackstone's Commentaries ; 
to the works of Littledale; 'Turning Points in English 
Church History 'Little’s Reasons for Being a Church- 
man 'Catholic Principles,’ and 'The Heart of Cath- 
olicity.’ The last three books are by American priests.” 

Jonathan said he could see the point, and that he 
understood what “fellowship” meant. “But as a mat- 
ter of fact,” said he, “do not the Methodists and Wes- 
leyans come under this head? Especially the M. E. 
Church in America? Did not John Wesley ordain the 
Rev. Dr. Thomas Coke as Bishop for America ? Coke, 
by the way, was a Welshman, born in Brecon in 1747.” 


106 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Mr. Morgan replied : “We must allow the Rev. 
John Wesley the benefit of the first concession, that he 
was an honest, sincere man. Now John Wesley was 
a priest of the Church of England, a priest and there- 
fore he had no authority to ordain Bishops or any other 
ministers, not. even to ordain a Deacon.” 

“But,” persisted Jonathan, “was not John Wesley 
converted on the matter of Orders by reading the book 
of Lord King to the belief that he could ordain 
Bishops?” 

“Perhaps he was and perhaps he was not. There 
is no desire to enter into a controversy. For if John 
Wesley himself was converted to Lord King’s idea, yet 
he knew that as a priest of the Church of England he 
could not ordain and be faithful to his ordination vows. 
He knew as well as Lord King knew, that the Church 
of England did not share in such a beUef. Then if he 
did ordain Dr. Coke bishop he was violating his ordi- 
nation vow, and I for one cannot believe that the Rev. 
John Wesley would ever do such a dishonorable act. 
And we must remember also that the Rev. John Wes- 
ley continued to exercise his functions as a priest of 
the Church of England until he died, and that about 
his last sermon was to urge the members of the Meth- 
odist society to be faithful to the Church of England, 
and that for years after the death of Wesley the mem- 
bers of the Wesleyan body received Holy Communion 
in the parish Church, as they had no communion of 
their own because they had no priests 

“And besides,” said the Rector, “the views of Wes- 
ley on the subject prove nothing. Even if John Wes- 
ley forgot himself so far as to violate his ordination 
vows and did ordain Coke as Bishop, that fact did not 
make Coke a Bishop. No more than if I believe that 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


107 


I possess the power to make a Bishop to-day, and if 
I would ordain you to be a Bishop would that make 
you a Bishop?'’ 

Jonathan said nothing. 

‘"Then,” continued the Rector, “we have in the Creed 
Four Marks of the Church, which are ; One, Holy, 
Catholic, and Apostolic. 

“One root may have many branches. This is the 
Fellowship of the Apostles. Holy, separated for good 
purpose. To make people holy, righteous, God-like. 
That is the Doctrine. Catholic, universal, as contra- 
distinguished to the Jewish Church which was national, 
partial. Life coming from the source of life, from 
God, God was the sustainer. Universal in time, place, 
doctrine, truth. This corresponds with the Bread, sus- 
tenance. Apostolic, with power to perpetuate itself. 
Apostle means one who is sent. The Church must 
have power and authority to send out from its centre 
holy ministers and priests. This refers to the Wor- 
ship.” 

Jonathan was silent for a while, and then he asked, 
“What was the Church in England before the Refor- 
mation in the 16th century, by Henry VHI?” 

“She was the same Church as she is to-day, English 
Catholic, One, Holy and Apostolic. She was domi- 
nated by the usurped authority of the Bishop of Rome, 
as was the civil government of England. But there is 
no other fact better established than the continuity of 
the Church from the time she was planted by S. Paul 
in the first century to this very day. This is beyond 
any dispute. 

“As Welshmen we must not forget the meeting of 
the Welsh Bishops in the 6th century with Augustine, 
when our sturdy forefathers absolutely refused sub- 


108 


RECLAxMATlON OF WALES 


mission to the Bishop of Rome, — refused to acknowl- 
edge him beyond a brother bishop. I must refer you 
to the books already mentioned for further detail and 
documentary evidence in this case. 

“But one thing I wish to bring to your notice, that 
is the Magna Charta, signed by King John in 1215, 
refers to the Church of England, about four hundred 
years before Henry VIII was born.'’ 

Concerning the tithes Mr. Morgan explained to us 
exactly what Miss Lloyd told us, that the tithes were 
the property of the Church, given to her by her own 
children from age to age. And that with the excep- 
tion of what is known as “Queen Anne’s Bounty,” the 
government has given not a penny to the Church, but 
on the CONTRARY THL Government has robbed the 
Church of millions of pounds. And if the rightful 
share was to be restored to the Church by the Govern- 
ment the Church’s property would be ten times more 
than it is to-day. 

Thus the afternoon ended, and the three of us knelt 
in prayer, and we sang the following hymn, Mr. Mor- 
gan accompanying us on the harp : 

“O ! Pwy yw hon sy’n d’od yn hy’, 

Yn lew i’r Ian, fel rhwng dau lu, 

O’r dywell Aiphtaidd wlad, 

Gan roddi pwys ei heniad pur 
Ar lesu gwiw, ’r Messiah gwir, j 

Ei Ffrynd a’i Phrynwr rhad? 

O’r dyfnder du i’r Ian y daeth, 

Tua’r wlad sy’n llifo o fel a llaeth, 

I’r etifeddiaeth fras : 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


109 


Yn Hawn o hedd, mae'n awr mewn hwyl, 
AH nefol gainc yn cadw gwyl, 

Am dd’od o’r Aipht i ma's. 

Duw sy iddi’n blaid, hi ga’dd oH bla'n 
Y cwmwl niwl aY golofn dan, 

Eneiniad yr holl saint; 

Hi wyr y ffordd iY Canaan draw, 

Ni chyfeiliorna ar un Haw, 

Nes cael meddiannuY fraint. 

Fel boreu wawr fe welir hon. 

Teg fel y Hoer maeH hwyneb Hon, 

Mewn cariad, gras, a hedd : 

Fel haul, heb un brycheuyn du, 

’N ofnadwy fel banerog lu— 

On’d hyfryd yw ei gwedd/’ 

SIN TAD YR HWN WYT YN Y N:ei^OKDD. 



110 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER XVII. 

THE reclamation OF JONATHAN. 

The Rev. Jonathan Rees tendered his resignation as 
Minister of Horeb Wesleyan Chapel. A meeting of 
the Trustees was called. ’Squire Williams presided at 
the meeting. Jonathan was also present, and fuLy 
stated the reasons for his resigning. He spoke of the 
love for the members, how dear they had become to 
him, and how kind and thoughtful they had been to 
him, — bearing patiently with him in his weaknesses; 
overlooking his many failures, and constantly holding 
up his hands in the battle against modern Ameleks. 
But he said that Duty to God was paramount. He 
stated how he had been brought up by his dear Uncle 
and Aunt in the Wesleyan faith; how he grew up in 
that faith, strong in his love for it, and loyal in all 
his thoughts. Lately, however, he had occasion to 
inquire into the Reason for this faith, and after a long, 
prayerful and thorough investigation he was most re- 
luctantly driven to the conclusion that God had a vis- 
ible Kingdom, Church, in this world; and having a 
visible Kingdom every loyal Christian should be a 
member of that Kingdom, Church. He endeavored 
hard and long to make that Kingdom, Church, the 
Wesleyan Connexion, or at least that the Connexion 
was a part of that Kingdom ; but he had utterly failed. 
And he was struck with the lack on the part of the 
giants of Wesleyanism to claim the Connexion as a 
Church. They speak of it as a Society, and as a So- 
ciety existing within the Church of England. The 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


111 


claim that Wesleyanism, and its other branches, the 
diiferent sects of Methodism, were Churches and au- 
thorized to administer the Sacraments of the Gospel, 
and especially the Lord’s Supper, was very modern 
indeed. We were on the Lord’s side without any 
question ; but we were not in His visible Church here 
on earth. For an illustration : During the last war in 
United States of America, the Government had sol- 
diers, it had the army under its control, officered by 
men commissioned by the Government. But besides 
these soldiers other soldiers fought for the Govern- 
ment, these were not under the control of the Gov- 
ernment, and their officers were not commissioned by 
the Government ; they were known as Guerrilla, com- 
manded by individuals who were not under the control 
of the Government. These soldiers could not claim 
the protection of the Government ; they could not claim 
the rewards of the Government ; they were in fact out- 
side the pale of the Government — and often they were 
doing more harm than good to the cause the?y were 
defending. 

In order to be soldiers of the Government some per- 
son in authority, — authorized by the Government, had 
to take their oath of allegiance, and some one with 
Authority from the Government had to issue the Com- 
mission of the Officers. 

So with the Christian soldiers, — they should be in 
the army officered by men with lawful authority from 
the King of the Church. 

He said that after a diligent search lasting several 
months, he had found that the Wesleyan Connexion 
was a Guerrilla faith, and that he was determined, at 
all cost, to join the regular army of God’s Government. 
Not that there were no noble soldiers, brave and fear- 


• 112 RECLAMATION OF WALES 


less, in the Guerrilla army, and not that there are no 
grand, noble and great men of faith in the Wesleyan 
Connexion, but because they are irregular soldiers. 

He said that as soon as his connextion terminated 
with Horeb Chapel he would prepare himself to re- 
ceive the Apostolic Sacrament of Confirmation, or the 
Laying on of Hands, as it is called in Holy Scriptures, 
as practised by the Apostles and by the Church ever 
since, and even by all sects until the sixteenth century ; 
and certainly it has been practised by the Catholic 
Church of Britain from the time that S. Paul and S. 
Joseph of Arimathea planted it in this country, the 
Church of S. Ninnian, and S. David, our own Patron 
Saint. 

He was not able to proceed for emotion. The con- 
gregation loved him dearly, and while not yet ready 
to concede that his conclusions were correct, yet their 
grief knew no bounds. Poor old Sally Williams in 
her arm chair was sobbing; and when quietness had 
been regained, she said : 

''Praise the Lord Jesus Christ, Who has sent His 
Holy Spirit to guide our dear Pastor. I also have felt 
the power of Him Who promised to guide us into all 
truth. For the past three months •! have been close 
to the Lord and I have come to the same conclusion. 
I desire to resign my membership in this Chapel and 
be restored to the parish Church.'’ 

They all knew and felt that Sally was speaking from 
her heart, and that she was in close communion with 
her God. Holy fear came over the members. Softly 
they sang: 


"Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch,” etc. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


113 


Several others spoke and prayed. There was no 
hard feeling. Each felt that the other was acting 
according to his light. 

They spoke of and prayed most tenderly for the 
pastor, — who had gone in and out before them in this 
Zion. 

The ’Squire spoke very feelingly of the pastor, — of 
the cordial relations between them, of the integrity and 
honor of his character, and of his profound respect for 
him, and of the greatest grief of losing him as a pastor 
and a friend ; and yet he knew their friendship would 
not be broken. 

Reluctantly the resolution to accept his resignation 
was carried. A committee of five was appointed to 
prepare a set of resolutions to be engrossed and pre- 
sented to Mr. Rees. 

We were preparing to go home, Rowland and his 
wife were sad. Before leaving Rowland Williams, 
Gladys his wife, and myself went to the auditorium, 
and by Gladys’ request we looked over the big Pulpit 
Bible, that we three procured for the opening of the 
little Chapel when it was a building 20 x 20 feet, when 
the great Aubrey preached. 

The three of us were silent, — thinking no doubt the 
thoughts that I had, — of the time past forever, — the 
time of childhood, hope and faith. 

“Oh, Rowland anwyl, I wish we three were back 
again to those happy days.” She wept silently. “Mae 
Robert wedi ein gadael ; mae’.*^ gweinidog anwyl yn ein 
gadael. Oh, Rowland anwyl, beth yw ewyllus ein Tad 
nefol?” 

Rowland was greatly affected, and myself could not 
restrain the tears. Gladys said, “Surely the Lord will 
show us. He will show us the right way, though we 


114 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


may be led through fire to it. See this Psalm that you, 
my dear Rowland, and you, my dear friend Robert, 
and myself marked in the Bible as our own motto and 
resolution. ‘Psalm xxiii. ‘Yr Arglwydd yw fy mu- 
gail,’ etc.” And Gladys sang softly : 

''Nearer, my God to Thee, 

Nearer to Thee, 


E’en though it be a cross 
That raiseth me ; 

Still all my song shall be. 
Nearer, my God, to Thee, 
Nearer to Thee.” 


We parted. My wife, who was waiting for me at 
Sally Williams’s, as she wanted to comfort Sally be- 
fore leaving her for the night, and I went to our home, 
heavy hearted and yet hopeful; and the ’Squire and 
Gladys drove to the Hall, — to realize how soon God 
answers their prayer. 


ARGI.WYDD EIN DUW. 



A PATRIOTIC STORY 


115 


CHAPTER XVIIL 
the; she;phe;rd and the; she;e;p. 

A week had scarcely passed when the news came to 
our parish that the dread cholera had broken out in 
Ruthin, a few miles from us, which struck terror to 
the stoutest heart. It was brought there by Sam y 
Morwr (Sam the Sailor), who had just returned via 
Liverpool from a long sea voyage. Samuel Rogers 
was a sailor on the good ship Gwynfa, when the dread 
plague broke out among some coolies from Hong Kong, 
China. Sam eluded the quarantine and took the train 
for Wrexham, and from Wrexham he was driven to 
Ruthin by Twm the Hackman. He was home hardly 
a day before he was taken violently sick with vomiting, 
and before morning he had died. His wife, five chil- 
dren and his old mother, who was nearly ninety years 
old, had been exposed to it, and several of the neigh- 
bors as well as Twm the Hackman and several others 
in Wrexham. 

A great dread came over the community. 

Mr. Owen Williams, the ’Squire’s father, had been 
in Sam’s company from Liverpool to Wrexham. The 
elder Mr. Williams was known for miles around, and 
he was always kind, and when he saw Sam he was 
glad and rode with him, hearing stories from the 
Orient and also giving news to Sam of his people. 
Sa" was an interesting talker. He had been a local 
prejicher with the Methodists until strong drink got 


116 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


the upper hand. Then Sam went to sea. That was 
years and years ago. When Sam is home and sober 
he is an interesting personage, but every now and again 
he gets the worse for liquor and then after a long spree 
he goes away to sea. He had been on one of these 
cruises now, — left over a year before. 

In' a few days more deaths were reported from the 
cholera, but none had suffered in Llangwenllian yet, 
and it was hoped none would. 

The following Sunday the minister appointed to take 
the place of Jonathan, the Rev. William Joshua 
Protheroe, preached his first sermon. Mr. Protheroe 
was a man quite the opposite of Mr. Rees. He was 
pompous in his movements, and noisy in his preaching ; 
overbearing in his dealings with his people. He had a 
high idea of his own importance, though his idea of his 
people was not very exalted. He had the reputation 
of being a strong Church hater. He was a Radical in 
politics, and in every way he was a very aggressive 
kind of man. His first sermon was preached Sunday 
morning, from the text: ''No man, having put his hand 
to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom 
of God.’’ (S. Luke ix, 62.) It was what is called a 
“hot sermon,” — full of generalities, high platitudes and 
personalities. He referred in scornful tones to the 
delinquencies of the former pastor in turning back 
from the great plough of Wesleyanism. He was 
afrai:] that his vanity had led him astray, and that the 
allurement of the "beast” was too dazzling and enticing 
to a vainglorious individual. The congregation was 
not in a very pleasant mood at this kind of a preaching. 
But was not Protheroe a great man, and was not his 
hatred to the Church some excuse? During the fol- 
lowing week he made the acquaintance of the people of 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


117 


the village, and it was freely whispered there that he 
was more like the kind of rectors that they used to 
have before Rector Morgan than a Wesleyan minister. 
He would hardly look at Morgan and Tom the crydd. 
Old Morgan did but very little at the last, but he was 
still a power in the village. Tom his son had taken 
hold of the shop. When the new minister passed old 
Morgan by, he brought upon him much wrath and 
gossip, and it was decided during the first week by 
those who were in the habit of spending the evenings 
gossiping in the shop y crydd that Protheroe was a 
cad, and he was to be shunned, and nearly all of the 
men made up their minds to go to the parish Church, 
where there is a “decent man not too proud to see you 
in your working clothes.’' 

The following Sunday morning Mr. Protheroe 
preached to quite a full house, as many had been 
attracted by the report of his abuse the Sunday before. 

His text this morning was from 1 S. Peter iii, 15, 
“Be ready always to give to every man that asketh 
you a reason of the hope that is in you.” Some of the 
people noticed that he left out the last part of the 
verse, “with meekness and fear.” 

Mr. Protheroe was a forceful speaker. He thought 
the highest virtue was to be sure of what you say. 
He did not believe in mincing words, and he only used 
such as had the most pungent meaning. Again in this 
sermon he scored the former pastor, and also some 
of the people who had left, and referred contemp- 
tuously to the gossiping shops of villages, — men of the 
place gathering there and passing judgment on their 
betters. Then for forty-five minutes he poured out 
learning and rhetoric in expounding the peerless and 
perfect faith of the Wesleyan Connexion. 


118 


RECLAMATION OF WAuES 


The people were again disappointed. There was no 
message of love, or tenderness, but all was harshness. 
And John y Gof said the diawl bach would not venture 
to come to his smithy and tell the people there what 
he did from the pulpit. John y Gof was as much of 
a centre as Tom y Crydd, for gathering to hear the 
news and decide grave questions of politics and re- 
ligion, which sometimes were assisted by a drink from 
the jug, as no public houses were any more in the 
village, and any farmer who came from the way of 
Ruthin or Abercarn would get his jug filled at the 
Pelican Inn, or the Pass By Tavern, or his horses 
would not be shod worth a penny. 

The 'Squire and his lady were very much disap- 
pointed, yet they said nothing. They knew it was 
impossible to have a minister at all times of the 
calibre of Jonathan. 

The new minister was to dine at the Hall that day, 
as he did the previous Sunday, and they were on their 
way home when a messenger, Wil y Gwas, was seen 
coming to meet them on horseback, and made sign for 
the driver to stop. He told the 'Squire, ‘'Mister bach, 
mae'ch tad yn sal 'rwan, ac yn retchio," and that they 
were afraid he had the cholera, as Peggy said that was 
the way her son was taken when he died with cholera 
forty years before. 

As soon as cholera was mentioned the new minister 
got very uneasy, and insisted it was inexpedient for 
liim to accompany the 'Squire. “Pfease drive me to 
my lo:^gings." So he was driven to the hotel, and 
again the 'Squire turned homeward. The carriage 
overtook the Rev. Dr. Morgan, in canonicals, walking 
as fast as he could with the viaticum. 

In answer to inquiries he said that he had heard 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


119 


Mr. Williams was taken suddenly sick with vomiting 
and he was afraid that he had cholera, and in that case 
he thought there was no time to lose so he brought 
the Holy Communion for him. The ’Squire took him 
in his carriage, and Rector Morgan occupied the seat 
so lately vacated by the new minister of the Wesleyan 
Chapel. 

When the Hall was reached they found Mr. Wil- 
liams in great agony, but calm and collected, and when 
he saw his son and the rector he had a sweet smile. 
“My time for departure is at hand, my son. God 
bless thee and Gladys my daughter anwyl, and thy 
children. I am glad you have come, Mr. Morgan. I 
want to receive the bkssed Sacrament once more.” No 
time was to be lost. Rector Morgan took from the 
package he had carried in his bosom a small silver 
cross and placed it on the table, and two candles and 
sticks and placed the candles in them, and in the pres- 
ence of agony and the approach of death anointed him 
and gave Mr. Williams the Body and Blood of Christ, 
the son and wife also receiving. 

Soon the Angel of Death came and took with him 
to Paradise the soul of Owen Williams, one of God’s 
noblemen, there to meet his dear wife who had pre- 
ceded him by a couple of years. 

The ’Squire and his lady were greatly stricken. 
There is no grief more terrible than the grief of sud- 
denly losing in death a dear father or mother. 

Word was sent to the Wesleyan minister of the 
death of one of the oldest and most respected members, 
and a founder of the Chapel, but he gave no heed. He 
left Llangwenllian, as he was afraid. Though his 
hand was put to the plough, yet he turned away in the 
day of need. He fled from his work and mission. He 


120 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


left his sheep to perish. He intended to go South, as 
he had heard that that part was free from the plague. 
On his way near Chester he was taken sick, and after 
a day or two died among strangers and his body was 
thrown into the Dead Wagon and dumped with other 
bodies into a large hole in the ground. 

The feeling of the people can only be appreciated 
by those who have passed through a plague. 

People in Wrexham died by the scores. The 
plague became general throughout that portion of Den- 
bighshire and greater part of Flintshire. For three 
months it raged in its fury. It was hard to get men 
to bury the dead. Morning and evening the Dead 
Wagon would go along the streets, picking up dead 
bodies and throwing them in the wagon as garbage 
is now gathered. There was no pity for no one had 
time. 

The greater number of physicians, ministers and 
gentry forsook the place,— most of them fled. In 
Ruthin the ministers had all gone, and the Rev. John 
Howell, the rector, was there alone, ministering the 
best he could to the sick and dying. 

In Llangwenllian the only minister fled, and the 
rector was left alone. The Chapel was closed, — no 
Sunday services; nor week day prayer meetings. The 
parish Church was open, and twice a day the bell would 
ring for the people to gather together in the House of 
God for prayer, and three times on Sunday. The 
Rector was everywhere, ready at all times to assist. 
Miss Lloyd was also among the people, — nursing, car- 
ing for them; it made no difference whether the sick 
was a Churchman or Dissenter, or with no Church 
affiliations, she was there with her soothing help, and 
many owed their lives to her tender care and nursing. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


121 


The Rev. Jonathan Rees left Llangwenllian Monday 
morning after his farewell sermon. He went to his 
aunt in Carmarthen to visit her and to consult with the 
Rev. Latimer M. Jones. While there he read in the 
Western Mail an account of the dreadful plague in 
Denbighshire, and of the death of his dear friend Owen 
Williams. He had an angagement to meet the Rev. 
Mr. Jones and Bishop Basil Jones, of S. David’s, on 
the morrow. On consulting his watch and the rail- 
way time table he found that in two hours he could 
take the train from Carmarthen station which would 
reach Shrewsbury in time to meet the train from there 
to Wrexham. He sent the Rev. Mr. Jones word, ex- 
plaining the situation and his sudden departure. The 
next day he appeared in Llangwenllian. The people 
were overjoyed, and at the same time they were afraid 
that he would catch the plague. 

He went to see Mr. Morgan and told him that his 
services were at his disposal, and for three months 
these two men worked day and night. 

At the beginning of the fourth month the plague was 
under control, and just when hope was entertained 
that now things would be all well Miss Megan, the 
’Squire’s daughter, a fine girl in her teens, was taken 
down with the plague. Her mother did all she could, 
a nurse was sent for from London, but the child was 
afraid of her. Miss Lloyd heard of the sickness, and 
there at once she went. Megan and Miss Lloyd had 
become quite friendly during the previous five months. 
Miss Lloyd took charge of her nursing, and in spite 
of all the care Megan was for several days hanging 
between life and death. And in the midst of it all the 
'Squire himself was taken down. Rector Morgan and 
Mr. Rees attended him, and thanks to their watchful 


122 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


care he recovered after a long illness. Little Megan 
was also saved. 

The little village had been weeded unmercifully. 
Many of the old characters were gone, but strange to 
say Sally Williams, weak and worn, and her little 
attendant were not touched. 

At the end of six months the plague was practically 
over. During all this time the Chapel of the Wesleyan 
Connexion in Llangwenllian had been closed, as no 
minister could be secured, — and what was true of this 
Dissenting Chapel was also true of dozens of others 
in the plague section. The ministers had fled away ; 
but worldly and despised, the old Mother Church was 
active and no priest deserted his sheep, not even the 
fox-hunting parsons. 

DYDDKD DY KWYLLYS a'r Y DDAKAR. 



A PATRIOTIC STORY 


123 


CHAPTER XIX. 

THE CHURCH AND THE CHAPEE — ^A DIEEERENCE. 

A great thanksgiving service was to be held in the 
parish Church. The service was to be on Sunday, the 
day preceding the Feast of S. John the Baptist. 

There were three services, the first was Low Mass 
at 6 o’clock. The other was High Mass at 10 o’clock, 
and the third service was Solemn Evensong, with a 
Te Deum and a Procession. 

Since the Rev. Mr. Morgan had been Rector a large 
three manual organ was built in place of the old Barrel 
Organ, which answered its purpose well for years. 
The great inconvenience of the ‘‘three deckers” was 
found out at the Institution Sunday, and soon after 
that the chancel was remodelled. 

Three steps led to the chancel itself, which was 
properly divided from the rest of the church by a 
beautifully carved Rood Screen. In the chancel were 
several stalls for the clergy, and a seating capacity 
for one hundred and fifty choir men and boys. From 
the chancel to the sanctuary were three steps more, and 
the beautiful altar costing ten thousand pounds was 
beautifully carved of white marble. On the Altar 
were four large candlesticks, and a Cross, with about 
two hundred smaller lights. The Altar was a gift of 
Mrs. Armstrong and was intended as a memorial to 
her husband, and was designed under the supervision 
of the Rev. Cecil Sparrow before he left. And it was 
also a monument to the taste, culture and breadth of 
mind of the Rev. Mr. Sparrow. For after all he was 


124 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


a grand man, only he did not understand the Welsh 
and the Welsh did not understand him. Oh, it were 
a pity that he was not a Welshman, for then he would 
have been able to do great work for the parish of 
Llangwenllian. 

The large building was well filled. Many attended 
that day who had not entered a Church building, out- 
side of funerals, for over twenty years. The scourg- 
ing hand of the plague brought them to their senses, 
and the merciful deliverance of God brought them on 
their knees, — their hard hearts having been melted by 
the touch of love. 

In the congregation were the ’Squire, his lady and 
children in deep mourning. 

When the congregation, led by the large vested 
choir, sang in Welsh: 

‘Tn the deep and mighty waters 
There is none to hold my head. 

But my only High Priest Jesus 
Who was slaughtered in my stead; 

He’s a Friend in Jordan’s river — 

Holding up my sinking head; 

With His smile I’ll go rejoicing. 

Through the regions of the dead,” 

it was hard to say whether it was sung or wept, so 
intense was the feeling of the congregation who had 
been so long in the depth of the swelling Jordan. 

The Wesleyan Chapel was closed, there was no 
voice of thanksgiving there. And the leading Dissent- 
ers of the Principality will not write carping criti- 
cism this time on account of the great service of the 
Church and the Chapel closed! as they did on a pre- 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


125 


vious occasion. For in the hour of trial the Wesleyan 
shepherd left his sheep and whom in turn were taken 
care of by the Rector of the hated Church. Who 
was the hireling, and who was the good shepherd in 
this case ? 


DUW DKWI SANT YDYW DIN DUW NI. 


126 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER XX. 

ROWLAND WILLIAMS THROWING AWAY PREJUDICE. 

A meeting of the Trustees and Leaders — Blaenor- 
iaid — of the Wesleyan Chapel was called, and all the 
members of the chapel were also urged to be present. 
This meeting was held Thursday evening following the 
Thanksgiving service in the Church. The attendance 
was small of the officers. Four vacancies had to be 
filled caused by death from the plague. The attend- 
ance of the members was better. 

'Squire Williams presided. The meeting was com- 
menced by singing: 

‘'O'th flaen, O Dduw ! 'r wy’n dyfod, 

Gan sefyll o hir-bell ; 

Pechadur yw fy enw — 

Ni feddaf enw gwell; 

Trugaredd wyf yn geisio, 

A cheisio eto wnaf ; 

Trugaredd imi dyro, 

’R wy'n marw oni chaf." 

Old Thomas Jones, the shop, led in prayer. There 
was a gloom over the meeting, as if the building was 
trembling for them for having the place closed so 
long; — a kind of presentiment that something of im- 
portance was going to happen. 

The ’Squire rose in his seat, and tendered his resig- 
nation as chairman of the Board of Trustees and 
President of the Sessions, as well as member of the 
chapel. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


127 


He spoke a few words extemporaneously, and then 
he read a carefully prepared statement. The question 
he said "was very important, and he could not trust 
to his memory, or to the spur of the moment, so he 
had carefully written a statement. 

This statement contained references to his first con- 
nection with religion in Llangwenllian, and also to the 
stand he had ever taken in regard to religious liberty. 
How he was prejudiced against the clergy and the 
Church on account of the character of the Rectors he 
had seen here. How he fought for the little chapel, 
and how afterwards having become rich he enjoyed 
the pleasure of erecting a building in the place of the 
little 20 X 20 ft. structure. How the events of the 
past few years shaped themselves, culminating with 
the dreadful plague, when he lost his loving father, 
who would have gone out of the world without any 
comfort of religion, and who would have been buried 
like a dog, if it were not for the faithful ministry of 
the Rector of this parish, he was brought to a realiza- 
tion that he had been prejudiced against the Church. 
.He spoke of how the Rector, wife and family spared 
not themselves, and although the plague had entered 
the Rectory and took away two of the beautiful chil- 
dren, yet the labor of the Rector and his family ceased 
not for others. He here referred to how the Rev. 
Mr. Protheroe ran away like a coward, and how the 
'Squire endeavored to secure the services of other 
Wesleyan ministers but in vain. How he even offered 
large rewards to the Rev. Jeremiah Jones, Higgin- 
batham and others for holding a funeral service for his 
father, as he was ashamed to admit that he had to turn 
to the ''hated, worldly and proud beast, the Church,” 
for the last office to a leader, and one of the founders. 


128 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


of the Wesleyan Chapel in Llangwenllian, and how 
he had to turn after all to the Church for the funeral 
service, as he had not the heart to bury his father 
without some religious service. 

And then he told them that for some months he had 
examined into the question, and how he had come to 
the conclusion, which had been arrived at by everyone 
who has examined into the matter, that the Church of 
England was the rightful Church of God in this coun- 
try. 

‘'The night when our former pastor, Mr. Rees, re- 
signed I was in great doubt ; I was then undecided. 
My dear wife and myself have spent days considering 
the matter, studying such books and works as could 
throw light on the subject. But oh, we could not tear 
ourselves away from the little Chapel, around which 
so much of our lives' memories had been woven and 
interwoven. We knew not what to do. Then as we 
examined the old Pulpit Bible, so dear to our hearts, 
my wife prayed that God would lead us aright. The 
words were, ‘Mae Robert wedi ein gadael. Mae'n 
gweinidog anwyl wedi ein gadael. Oh, Rowland an- 
wyl, beth yw ewyllys ein Tad nefol? Surely the Lord 
will show us. He will show us the right way, though 
we may be led through fire to it.' And then she 
pointed to the Twenty-third Psalm. 

“Little did I think then that through the death of 
my dear father and the terrible sickness of my own 
little Megan, and indeed my own, was our heavenly 
Father to show me the true way. He spoke, I heard 
His Voice. My dear wife also heard it, and both of 
us now in your presence declare that we resign our 
connection with this Chapel, dear and near as it is, and 
we will seek our place in the Parish Church, the House 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


129 


of God in sickness and distress as well as in time of 
plenty and health, — the House of God in deeds as 
well as in words.” 

Rowland could not read any further, as his feelings 
had overcome him, and the Clerk of the Session, with 
choking voice, finished reading his resignation. 

There was not a dry eye in the Chapel. They knew 
the ’Squire and his good lady. They knew the great 
work he had accomplished not for the Wesleyans only, 
but for the whole country in his fight for religious 
liberty throughout Dear Old Wales. 

They knew when Rowland Williams said he heard 
the Voice of God that he was speaking the truth and 
they believed him, for Rowland Williams was one of 
the most Ipeloved men in the country. 

As with one accord the little company sang, 

‘‘Yn y dyfroedd mawr a’r tonau,” etc. 

And then old Thomas Jones, now nigh to a century 
mark, remembered the time and feelings when he met 
the great Aubrey and the first service in the Chapel, 
and the part that Rowland Williams and his wife 
Gladys and myself took in procuring the Great Bible, 
and how on his return from America a rich man, 
Rowland Williams and his wife built this beautiful 
edifice, and what they did for the village and the 
people. Oh, he cried, that he had closed his eyes in 
death before he had seen the work of the last half 
year. He had lost his dear wife in the plague, and 
also his son, and how he was not able to get any Dis- 
senting minister to officiate at the funeral. Yes, the 
loss of his wife and son was great, but '‘Oh,” he 
groaned, 'T have sustained worse loss, I have lost my 
faith in the chapel.” But he has found it richer and 


130 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


more glorious in the Church. Mr. Morgan had vis- 
ited them throughout their sickness and distress, and 
together with Mr. Rees their former pastor, who is 
now a candidate for Holy Orders, they indeed brought 
the love of God into the heart of many despairing 
souls and his among the rest. 

Others spoke in the same strain. 

The Trustees did not know what to do. They could 
not continue in the chapel. It was useless, a place of 
worship which is closed and deserted during a plague 
cannot be open during fair weather. 

At last a committee of five was appointed, including 
Lawyer Jones, of Dolgelly, who still was a power, to 
determine what steps should be taken, and until the 
report of the Committee be made, the resignations of 
the ’Squire and others were laid on the table. 

COFIWCH FICH DYI^EDSWYDD. 



A PATRIOTIC STORY 


131 


CHAPTER XXL 

ANDREW WIDDIAMS AND HIS DISSENTING TRICKS. 

When the plague was under control and virtually 
over Jonathan returned to Carmarthen to consult again 
with the Rev. Latimer M. Jones, and Miss Lloyd re- 
turned to Llanfynydd. 

Jonathan entered S. David’s Theological College, 
located in Lampeter, a market town of Cardiganshire, 
twenty miles from Carmarthen, for a course in theol- 
ogy. The usual course was four years, but Jonathan 
being a ripe scholar, an M. A. of Oxford, the course 
was reduced to two years. 

The return of Miss Lloyd after such a long absence 
caused much rejoicing throughout Llanfynydd parish. 
She had changed, — ^the ordeal which she had gone 
through left indelible marks, and made her sweeter 
than ever to the parishioners who loved her so well. 
Mrs. Morgan also accompanied her, intending to spend 
the autumn with her parents in the lovely spot where 
she had spent so many happy years of her girlhood’s 
life. 

During the plague Jonathan and Miss Lloyd had 
seen a great deal of each other, and although he did 
not again declare his love yet their hearts were drawn 
closer together and an implied understanding gov- 
erned both. 

His letters to her from S. David’s Theological Col- 
lege were full of tenderness, and her replies did not 
lack some warmth. 

In Lampeter was a firm of lawyers, the senior part- 


132 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


ner of which was a native of Mold, not far from Llan- 
fynydd, Flintshire. With this firm was a young man 
from a place between Mold and Llanfynydd, who had 
been acquainted with Miss Lloyd, and was greatly in- 
fatuated with her, but whose attachment was not re- 
ciprocated on her part. 

Andrew Williams was a member of the Rev. J. 
Myrddin Thomas' Independent Chapel. He was 
partly educated at Bala College where \\e w6it to study 
for the Independent ministry, and undoubtedly would 
have finished his course there but for his familiarity 
with the fair sex, for at the end of his second year 
he was requested to depart for the good of the col- 
lege’s reputation, and this terminated his career as a 
preacher. Then he turned his attention to law, which 
he said gave him more liberty than the Gospel, — at 
least in his fondness for Eve's daughters. 

The law firm were the legal advisers of the College. 
Mr. Jennings' brother was the postmaster of the vil- 
lage, and Andrew lodged with him, and occasionally 
assisted him with the letters. 

In the course of time Andrew saw the name of 
Jonathan Thomas Rees, formerly Wesleyan minister 
at Llangwenllian, North Wales, a native of Llan- 
fynydd, Flintshire, North Wales, on the roster. At 
once he recognized him as his rival for Miss Lloyd's 
hand. 

He immediately reconnoitered in his mind for a plan 
to separate Miss Lloyd and Jonathan. At last he hit 
upon a scheme, — as bungling in its results as it was 
annoying in its mischief. 

In his letters to his mother he mentione:! after this 
that Jonathan was there, a regular turncoat, had lost 
all his religion and was a gay gallant.' He knew that 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


133 


once or twice a month his mother would drive the 
"merlyn” to Llanfynydd to visit an aunt, who lived 
next door to the post office, kept by the Rev. Thomas 
Rees, a distant relative of Jonathan, on his father's 
side. Mr. Rees was an interesting old gentleman, who 
had been for years minister in charge of the Independ- 
ent chapels of Llanfynydd and Caergwrle, a beautiful 
little village across the hill from Llanfynydd. Of 
course Mr. Rees was interested in his relative, and 
was often given the privilege of reading Andrew’s let- 
ters to his mother, in which much of Jonathan’s his- 
tory, supposed to be, was given. 

PI is mother received a letter one day from her son 
which caused some sensation concerning Jonathan. It 
was rumored, he wrote, that Jonathan was engaged 
to be married to a very wealthy young lady, a niece 
of Viscount Emlyn, and that Jonathan would then 
leave college. Immediately the “merlyn” bach was 
harnessed, put in the cart, and towards Llanfynydd his 
head was turned, and the switch of the whip made 
him “go.” His mother on reaching Llanfynydd went 
to see Mr. Rees and showed him the letter. Mr. Rees 
was a widower, and had Betsy Jones come in every 
day to ’tend to the house. Betsy Jones was a good 
old soul, who was well developed in the art of parting 
news to others. She was not a gossip, oh, no; but a 
news gatherer, and as she visited a number of families 
in the village she was able to discharge her self- 
imposed duty with alacrity, — and her tale would grow 
as she went on. She heard Mr. Rees reading the let- 
ter to the mother, and Betsy lost no time in beginning 
her mission of conveying the news to the far and near. 
She called at various regular stops, and at each rendi- 
tion the tale would grow, until when she reached the 


134 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Rectory, she had a compound story. She read the 
letter herself (and she could not read even print) 
which Mrs. Williams received from her son telling 
that Jonathan was going to leave college and marry 
Lady Bertha Brougham, a relative of Lord Emlyn, 
and that after the wedding through the influence of 
Lord Cawdor, another relative, Jonathan would re- 
ceive a government appointment in India, and so on 
and so forth. Not having heard from Jonathan for 
many weeks, although several letters were sent him, 
the story was naturally received as true and as an 
explanation for his silence. Mrs. Morgan wondered, 
as she was well acquainted with the attachment be- 
tween Edith and Jonathan. Of course there had been 
no engagement, and at one time Edith had rejected 
him. 

Miss Lloyd showed no outward indications of the 
grief which was gnawing at her heart ; and her lack 
of energy was attributed to the ordeal of the plague. 
Fears were entertained that she would break down. 

Andrew Williams was a strange compound. He 
was a Liberal in politics, until one day Lord Mostyn’s 
attention was called to him as an intended Independent 
minister, and his Lordship having often heard of the 
zeal and willingness of the political preachers to do 
a kind act in exchange for some favor, not always 
money, he accosted Andrew, and told him he had 
heard of his ability as a speaker. Andrew brightened 
up as he knew the speaker was Lord Mostyn. Andrew 
mumbled some acknowledgment of the compliment. 

“I am looking for such a young man to speak 
throughout the shire in behalf of the Conservative 
candidate for Parliament.” 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


135 


“If I may be bold enough I would offer my service 
to your Lordship/' 

“But I was told you were a Radical and a warm 
supporter of Mr. Stuart the Radical candidate." 

“Yet speakers, my Lord, like ladies are permitted 
to change their minds, and I am ready to change my 
mind in this case." 

Lord Mostyn was amused, if not appreciative of 
the change. Andrew was engaged to the great amuse- 
ment of the people who were not in league with the 
Political Ministerial association. And Lord Mostyn 
was convinced of the “real" attitude of the political 
canters. 

Andrew was bitterly against the Church, and his 
position as clerk in the office of the proctors of S. 
David’s Theological College increased his bitterness, 
as he had an insight to the prestige, power and pros- 
perity of the Church. He was intense in his likes 
and dislikes. He was bitterly incensed at Jonathan, 
as he took it for granted that Jonathan was his rival, 
and that but for Jonathan he would be the accepted 
suitor for Miss Lloyd’s heart and hand. And added 
to this was his soreness at the Bishop of S. Asaph for 
refusing to accept him as candidate for Holy Orders. 
This fact also increased his bitterness against the 
Church. When the Rev. Michael D. Jones, the Prin- 
cipal of Bala College, had an interview with him, and 
“advised him to leave college, Andrew went straight 
to the Bishop of S. Asaph, and offered himself as “a 
candidate for the ministry of the Church." In a short 
time the good old Bishop found out that Andrew was 
expelled from Bala College for immoral cause, and 
the Bishop refused to entertain his proposition for a 
minute, but advised him to deport himself as a man, 


136 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


and to amend his ways and to do that which was right 
by his fellow men. 

Indeed Andrew left Prof. Jones in “high dudgeon,” 
but that was as nothing compared to his anger when 
he left the Bishop. 

In a way Andrew was cunning, and at times he 
could play his cards well, literally and figuratively. 

To Jonathan’s face he was obsequiousness itself, and 
he professed great attachment for him. He often 
spoke to Jonathan of his attachment, and of events in 
North Wales, avoiding any reference to Llanfynydd 
and the Lloyds, until one day he came to Jonathan 
whining as if his heart were broken, and when asked 
the cause he informed Jonathan confidentially that he 
had been informed by his mother that Miss Lloyd of 
Llanfynydd, to whom he had been engaged for three 
years, and were to be married as soon as he would be 
admitted to the bar, had jilted him, and she was going 
to be married to Captain Benjamin “Ted” Lockwood, 
of her Majesty’s Horse. On hearing this Jonathan 
became a trifle excited, and when Andrew applied a 
vile epithet to Miss Lloyd Jonathan knocked him 
straight between his eyes which caused Andrew to kiss 
the floor two or three times. 

He never did like Andrew, and now he loathed him. 
His Edith Gwen Lloyd engaged to this loon! And 
going to marry the well known rounder Capt. Lock- 
wood. Yet it was nothing to him. She had refused 
him. 

Many things crowded to Jonathan’s mind. This ex- 
plained her silence. He was hurt, at least she could 
have answered his letters and frankly informed him 
that she did not wish to correspond any more, even if 
she did not desire to confide in him her engagement 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


137 


to Capt. Lockwood. 

Jonathan was hurt, and felt sick with himself and 
all the world. Now being deprived of her friendship 
he devoted his time more closely than ever to his 
studies in theology, as well as his independent research 
into the wonderful structural geology of parts within 
reach of Lampeter. 

CYSURWCH, CYSURWCH PY MHOBL, ElCH DUW. 



RECLAMATION OF WALES 


138 


CHAPTER XXII. 

THE BOX AND ITS INFLUENCE ON LLANGWENLLIAN. 

• 

The was formally opened in the presence of 

the Bishops of S. Asaph, and his brother of Bangor, 
and the ’Squire and Dr. William Morris. The box 
was found to cntain a long sought for document con- 
cerning a chancery suit which had been in existence 
for nearly a century. The original possessor delib- 
erately concealed the document, which alone could un- 
lock a vast fortune and divide a large estate. 

In the middle of the eighteenth century there lived 
an eccentric nobleman in Bias Gwyn, on an ancient 
estate of 30,000 acres. He prided himself on being a 
pure blooded Welshman, aiul refused to conform to 
the unpatriotic custom of his day to discard Welsh for 
English. A great deal of the estate consisted of hilly 
and barren wastes, — and deep gulches. The estate 
was situated in the parishes of Llangwenllian and Llan- 
fairgwyn. The Bishop of the Diocese at that time 
was a Saxon, and on a visit to Lord Edward the Bishop 
offended him by reflecting on Wales, — referring to the 
obstinacy of the Welshmen in sticking to their dialect. 

What ^‘dialect” for the most beautiful language: in 
the world, — the language which Adam and Eve spoke 
in Paradise! Pity for you, Mr. Esgob Seisneg! 

The rectorate of Llanfairgwyn was vacant. It was 
a typical Welsh Parish, with fully 90 per cent who 
could not say even ''yes,” in English. The livingj wa5 
in the gift of the Bishop, and in spite of the request 
of Lord Edward for an appointment of the Rev. WiL 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


139 


liam Morgan Hughes the Bishop appointed a typical 
monocled Saxon priest, who had much antipathy and 
prejudice against the Welsh. 

Lord Edward made a will, and in this will he be- 
queathed certain gifts to his relatives and heirs, and 
referred to a certain document without which the bal- 
ance of his estate could not be divided. His heirs 
commenced litigation and the estate was thrown into 
chancery. 

This certain document, which at the time of his last 
illness his Lordship handed as a sacred trust to his 
faithful servant and companion, Thomas Jones, the 
grandfather of Thomas Jones, the grocer, contained 
two very important items. First came the directions 
how the balance of the estate should be divided, which 
was not to divide it among his legal heirs, as they haa 
ample share of his wealth, but the estate was to be 
given to the See of St. Asaph whenever its Bishop 
could say Mass in Welsh; and for the benefit of the 
Diocese of S. Asaph and the Diocese of Bangor, when 
these two Welsh Dioceses had Bishops who could say 
Mass in Welsh. ffl 

The second item of importance was a description of 
a certain location in the wilds of the estate, where 
human foot had hardly trodden, where marble had 
been discovered, and to another location where cobalt 
had been found. 

The mines were to be distinct from the rest of the 
estate, the proceeds were to be devoted towards the 
establishment of a Welsh University in North Wales, 
with the exception that one-tenth of the product was 
to be given to the parishes in which the land was 
located, plus the tithes already on the estate. 


140 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Those present were greatly excited at the contents. 
Word was immediately dispatched to the Proctor of 
S. Asaph, and also for Mr. Jones, Dolgelly, as a per- 
sonal representative of Dr. William Morris, a descend- 
ant of Lord Edward, and the only living direct heir. 

After a satisfactory settlement, experts were em- 
ployed to survey and examine the locations designated. 
After a thorough examination and careful assaying the 
experts reported that both marble of the finest grade 
and cobalt were found. 

A company was at once chartered, and work on the 
location was commenced. The experience of the 
’Squire in America was found to be of great advan- 
tage. He was made President. 

The news of the discovery ^soon travelled through 
the country, which brought thousands of people to 
Llangwenllian and Llanfairgwyn. Hundreds of people 
were employed in the mines and in the quarries. Tem- 
porary buildings were erected and as soon as workmen 
could build, permanent houses were erected for the 
men and their families, and in less than a year the 
snug little town, the quiet little village of Llangwen- 
llian became a respectable sized town of 7,000 souls 
and over, and increasing as rapidly as the workmen 
could build additional houses. 

Each family was given the privilege of buying its 
home, with five years’ time to pay, and the rent in the 
meantime would go towards the pa 3 mient, and in this 
way hundreds, if not thousands, became owners of a 
good substantial home at a nominal price. 

A branch railway from Wrexham was built, and 
another from Mold, connecting it with the railway 
to Chester. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


141 


Alodern houses were erected. Tiles instead of 
straw were used for the roofs. A new and adequate 
system of water was established. 

With the increase of population it was found neces- 
sary to build new Church buildings. The parish was 
divided into six districts, and a chape! of ease was 
erected for each district, two of which were for Eng- 
lish services, as many Englishmen had become resi- 
dents of the parish. A curate was appointed for each 
district under the rector of the parish. 

.Among the new comers, as might be expected, were 
many dissenters, and soon they clamored for a build- 
ing of their own. The Independents built a small 
structure on the corner of Kings and Esplanade 
streets, and though generously supported by the Mis- 
sion Board, yet it was not a success. The ministers 
would desert the Chapel for the Church. The parish 
Church and her chapels, afforded all the necessary 
religious comforts ; and with the former Chapel of the 
Wes!eyans turned over to the parish Church and made 
into a club or parish house for the people, they were 
very well satisfied, and cared nothing about the 
vaunted Dissenters' pleading of '‘liberty, freedom and 
the beast." 

I have anticipated somewhat, but who can blame 
me in this maelstrom of success, development and 
prosperity ? 

The Committee appointed to consider what to do 
with the Wesleyan Chapel, brought in a report : The 
Committee visited every member of the Chapel, and 
with the exception of six persons, who said they were 
going away from Llangwenllian to Canada in a few 
weeks, all the members and hearers gave their opinion 
that the Chapel should be closed for worship : — the 


142 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


people were returning to the parish Church, as their 
cause of dissatisfaction had ceased to exist. Mr. 
Jones, Dolgelly, reported that the original deed had 
been forfeited, for the reason that the Chapel had 
been closed for over six consecutive months, and that 
by law it reverted to the estate of ’Squire Armstrong, 
which now was owned by the Hon. Rowland Williams, 
M. P. And as Mr. Williams gave the money to build 
the present structure, and also gave the necessary addi- 
tional land, he would recommend that the. Trustees 
call a meeting and pass the required resolutions de- 
manded by law to carry out the above, and to transfer 
the property to Mr. Williams. ‘'I am a Non-Conform- 
ist myself,” said Mr. Jones, ‘Tut I am a God-fearing 
man. And if the National Church of Wales were 
alive to her mission in Dolgelly as she is in Llangwen- 
llian, and many other parishes in Wales, I would in- 
deed be a Churchman.” And he became one before 
he died. He was RectorT Warden for ten years in 
Dolgelly. 

In due time and form the recommendations were 
carried into effect, and the buildings and land were 
transferred to the ’Squire, who after consulting with 
the Rector, his wife and myself, deeded to the Parish 
Church for a Parish Club, where people could gather 
for concerts, lectures, and entertainments, etc., main- 
taining reading rooms for the benefit of the people of 
the parish. 


MOLWCH YR ARGLWYDD. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


143 


CHAPTER XXIII. 
political disslntlrs DLSPKRATL. 

While religious matters were peaceably settled in 
Llangwenllian, and the people there prosperous, har- 
monious and contented, yet it was vastly different in 
other parts of Wales. The loss of the Dissenters and 
the gain of the Church around Llangwenllian made 
the Dissenters most bitterly desperate in other parts 
of the Principality, as well as in England proper. 

It was a desperate fight between Chapel and Church. 
Xow or never must the battle be decided. Wherever 
the Church had awakened from her unsympathetic ex- 
istence, which had been mainly the effect of having 
English-speaking priests in Welsh parishes, she was 
prosperous, and the people embraced her with the 
avidity which they manifested when they had the 
opportunity of restoring Charles II to the throne. 
This welcome the Non-Conformists saw and hated. 

In the General Election of 1 the Dissenters de- 

termined to make disestablishment of the Church in » 
Wales an issue, as well as her disendowment. 

Ireland, in obedience to her political, agitators, was 
in a state of revolt. The blood of the noble Cavendish 
seemed to awaken every spirit of discord within the 
island, and called every demon which tradition says 
S. Patrick the Welshman had cast into the sea, up 
again to life and war. Ireland was revolting under 
the pretense of '‘Home Rule.’’ The real issue was a 
determination to destroy non-Roman England. 

The Socialist party was composed mainly of wild 
and irresponsible elements. The party cared nothing 


144 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


for religion more than its great prophet Karl Marx 
did. It was self-centred. This party was willing and 
anxious to co-operate with any body of men, or any 
party, to down the Church, as they said, “the Church 
is a Capitalistic institution.'’ 

Many of the leaders of the Socialist party were out 
and out infidels, and they as lief down Dissenters as 
Churchmen. 

Then there was another dangerous party because its 
pretentions were so plausible, calling itself the Labor 
party, and having many excellent “planks" in its plat- 
form. There was no mistake of the fact that the 
working people had ample reasons to groan under their 
burdens, and the indifference of the two main parties 
towards their condition. This party also would be 
willing to lend itself in exchange for a “thump" at the 
monopolists. The Liberal party offered it a large 
emolument if the party would assist in destroying the 
Church in Wales. 

The Liberal party had some very notable men, — men 
with the greatest minds in the world, and if these minds 
could control the party would be all well and all fair. 
But men were restless, and restless men have no log- 
ical minds, and the leaders had to give in to the “mob." 
The power of darkness was loose in the world. 

This great restlessness was brought about by the 
avarice of wealth under the control of educated men 
without the power of religion. Men began to arrogate 
to themselves authority, shrewdness and moral license,, 
for their own financial profit. First they forgot to 
acknowledge God as their heavenly Father, and it was 
not long before they refused to acknowledge man as 
their earthly brother. And the great potential power 
which was in Non-Conformity was debauched for the 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


145 


material aggrandisement at the cost of ruin of the 
Church, insomuch that religion became to mean politics, 
and political success to them. The Evangelical preach- 
ers^ gave place to political preachers. 

As a sop to the Socialists, Laborites, and the adher- 
ents of the Italian Mission in England, the losing Lib- 
eral party offered them the wealth of the Church. And 
it was proposed to divide the property of the Church 
of our forefathers, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apos- 
tolic Church, among the secular, political, and often 
antagonistic institutions of the Principality ! 

With the help of the combined strength of the So- 
cialists, Laborites, Bradlaughites, Romanites and gen- 
eral Anti-ites the Liberal party had a majority of about 
twenty to thirty over the great and patriotic Conserva- 
tive party, but to maintain this small majority the Lib- 
eral party had to pay dearly. 

A bill was introduced in Parliament for the Dis- 
establishment and the Disendowment of the Church in 
Wales. Poor Wales, Why the Church in Wales? 
And not in England? It passed its first reading as a 
matter of course. The second reading was carried 
during the last part of the illness of Mr. Williams, with 
a small majority. And now the third reading, and 
final, was to be on the 6th of the month. The Liberal 
whip urged Mr. Williams to be present, as every vote 
and voice were needed. Mr. Williams was known as 
a champion of religious liberty, and a strong and 
wealthy Dissenter. Mr. Williams promised to be in 
his seat and to speak on the subject. 

TAW, o DDYN, A MI A TE^ARAF, MEDD YR ARGLWYDD. 


146 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

JONATHAN ORDAINED A CURATE IN LLANELWCH. 

Jonathan graduated from St. David's College with a 
B. D. degree, and was ordered Deacon by the Bishop 
of S. David's, at Abergwili, — a small village about two 
miles from Carmarthen. The Bishop's Palace is lo- 
cated in this village, the Cathedral itself is located in 
Pembrokeshire. 

When Jonathan was made a Deacon 140 others were 
also admitted to the Diaconate and 175 were advanced 
to the Priesthood. 

The Rev. Dr. Morgan (having received a D. D. de- 
gree from Oxford), Rector of Llangwenllian, was 
present at the invitation of the Rev. Latimer M. Jones, 
his old friend and patron. 

When the Rev. Dr. Morgan met Jonathan at a re- 
ception to the former at S. Peter's Vicarage, Car- 
marthen, there was much rejoicing. After awhile Dr. 
Morgan said he was surprised to learn that Jonathan 
was to be ordered Deacon the coming Sunday, as he 
had heard he had given up the idea of the sacred min- 
istry to accept a government position in India. 

Jonathan laughed at this sally as he imagined it to 
be, and replied : 

“Wales is good enough for me." And by degrees 
he ventured on delicate ground as he was yearning to 
hear something of Miss Lloyd, and he ventured to 
banter Morgan by saying: 

“And I suppose now that you being so closely con- 
nected wifh the Secretary of the Colonies you will be 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


147 


appointed Bishop in Africa or India, or some such 
fine place/' 

“Connected with the Secretary of the Colonies ! 
How?" 

“I understand his favorite nephew, Captain ‘Ted’ 
Lockwood, is engaged to your sister-in-law." 

“Engaged to my sister-in-law ! How in the world 
did you learn that piece of news ?" 

Jonathan’s heart gave a jump, as he could see that 
Dr. Morgan did not want him to know it, or he was 
ignorant of the engagement, or it may not be so. 

“There is a young man in the office of Jennings & 
Johnson, solicitors, Lampeter, named Andrew Wil- 
liams, a native of a place between Mold and Llan- 
fynydd, Flintshire. His mother visits Llanfynydd two 
or three times a month, and spends it seems a consid- 
erable amount of her time there with some relatives. 
About a year ago Andrew told me that he had received 
a letter from his mother with the news that Miss Lloyd 
was engaged to Captain ‘Ted’ Lockwood, and as I 
used to receive a letter from Miss Lloyd occasionally 
until this news I concluded that the reason she did not 
write any more was her engagement." 

Dr. Morgan was greatly puzzled. “Captain ‘Ted’ 
Lockwood !’’ he said. “Captain Lockwood in the first 
place was married over a year ago to the girl he had 
been engaged to for over five years, and God pity her. 
She married him to reform him ! An impossible feat, 
I am afraid." The effect on Jonathan was visible. 

“And now, old friend, the same gentleman wrote to 
his mother informing her that you were engaged to 
Lady Bertha Brougham, and that Lord Cawdor was 
getting you a position in India, as you had given up 
the idea of Holy Orders. My wife told me that Edith 


148 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


used to receive letters from you until about the time 
of this news, and then she concluded that as you were 
engaged to Lady Bertha you ceased writing. She 
wrote you several letters without a reply. I wrote 
you one myself which you did not answer.” 

Now it was for Jonahtan to be surprised. The 
scene came to his mind of Andrew’s rolling feat when 
he was knocked down. He wished Andrew was near 
now and the scene would be re-enacted with consider- 
able additions. 

“Lady Bertha, I understand she is away on the con- 
tinent, and has been away for over two years, and 
while I have heard often of her, yet I have never seen 
her. Lord Emlyn and Lord Cawdor have made sev- 
eral visits to the college, yet neither of them is spe- 
cially acquainted with me.” 

“There must be something wrong. Are you well 
acquainted with Andrew Williams?” 

“I have seen much of him in Lampeter. I knocked 
him down once when he told me of the engagement 
of Miss Lloyd. He told me that he had been engaged 
to her, and that she jilted him to marry the captain. 
He has been very obsequious to me ever since.” 

The Rev. Dr. Morgan roared. Jonathan of all men 
knocking anybody down. 

“Andrew is a Dissenter,” said Morgan, “and has 
been very bitter since the Bishop of S. Asaph refused 
to accept him as a Candidate for Holy Orders. I am 
suspicious of him.” 

The Ordination Sunday came and passed, and Jon- 
athan was given a title with the Rev. Joseph Marston, 
Rector of Llanllwch, a parish about a mile from Car- 
marthen. 

Llanllwch is an ancient parish, dating from the sec- 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


149 


011(1 or third century, and according to the prophecies 
of Merlin is to be of some importance in the future, 
as he says : 

“Llanllwch a fydd, 

Caerfyrddin sydd, 

Ac Abergwili sai/’ 

Hitherto the prophecy is correct. The village itself 
is not very pretentious. The parish buildings consist 
of a Church and school house. The Church is situ- 
ated in the middle of a grave yard, with graves on all 
sides, — some of the inscriptions on the tombs are quite 
ancient. The building is of stone, and divided into the 
old and the new portions. The new part was built in 
the early 70's, during the rectorship of the Rev. Jon- 
athan Marsden, who succeeded the celebrated preacher 
Dr. David Jenkins. 

The village is typical, consisting of one street, with 
a farm house as one enters the village from the north. 
Then a house opposite the entrance to the farm. This 
house at one time was a “lodge” of the Plas, which is 
situated in the midst of a large tract of land, with a 
magnificent green in front, covered with ancient oak 
and other beautiful trees, — some of them centuries old. 
The green is walled in. The parish school house is 
across the street from the green. This school at one 
time was very famous, in fact it was the only school 
house for miles, and it reached its meridian when Mr. 
Evan Rees was the School Master in the 70’s. Mr. 
Rees was also the choirmaster of the Church. 

In this school room the Friendly Society of the vil- 
lage and parts adjacent met once a month. And once 
a year it would hold its “Annual Feast.” It was won- 
derful how many orators and poets would bloom on 


150 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


that day, under the influence of the feast, — not so much 
from what they ate as what they drank. The water 
of Llanllwch well was famous for its sparkling qual- 
ities ! Below this school was a row of houses. Then 
a small brooklet divided the village, spanned by a 
bridge. On the other side of the bridge was another 
row of houses, with a carpenter shop and a weaver’s 
shop. There was also in this row of houses the shop 
of Daniel y crydd, — a very important village character, 
his shop was the rendezvous of all the wiseacres in the 
district. 

Scattered in the parish are fine farm houses and 
laborer’s cottages, and for each place a pew was as- 
signed in the parish Church. 

Famous men had preceded Jonathan in this ancient 
Church, it being the mother parish of the county. But 
no one was counted “a good preacher” here unless he 
had the “hwyl,” and could be heard on a fine day from 
a field half a mile away on Alltycnap. Jonathan ha 1 
a splendid ‘'carrying voice,” and could be heard from 
this field, so he was “all right” as a preacher. 

Jonathan lived quite a distance from the Church and 
the village, but he was active in the aflfairs of the parish 
and soon became a favorite with the people. 

The stipend was not large, and it was out of the 
question for a curate in this parish to marry and re- 
main a curate here, unless he had private means, and 
Jonathan had none. But Llanllwch was noted for the 
advancement of its curates. 

At the end of the year Jonathan was advanced to the 
priesthood. 

The following hymn of Llawdden was very popular 
at Llanllwch : 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


151 


''O fy Arglwydd ! O fy Mhrynwr ! 

O fy Ngheidwad! O fy Nuw! 

Ti, fy lesu, yw fy nghwbl, 

Ar Dy haeddiant ’r wyf yn byw ; 
Ffrwyth Dy boen, a gwerth Dy aberth, 
Rhinwedd iawnol dwyfol waed, 
Dyma wraidd fy boll orfoledd, 

DymaV graig sydd dan fy nhraed. 

Ti fy Mugail! Ti fy Mrenin ! 

Ti fy Mhriod! Ti fy Mrawd! 

Ti fy Archoffeiriad grasol! 

Ti ymwisgaist yn fy nghnawd ; 

Ti sy'n byw i eiriol drosof, 

Ti fy unig noddfa yw ; 

Dyma sail fy iachawdwriaeth, 

Duw yn" ddyn a dyn yn Dduw/’ 

CKNWCH i'r arglwydd ganiad n^jwydd. 



152 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER XXV. 

DARK SPOTS ON DISSKNTISM. 

Andrew Williams continued his clerkship in the 
office of Jennings and Johnson, and he also continued 
to lodge with the Post Master, after Jonathan left col- 
lege. He was elated that he had broken the friend- 
ship of Jonathan and Edith. 

And finding himself so successful in this direction 
he began to lay his plans for revenge on other students, 
several of whom had made complaints that their letters 
were interfered with. The local post office was 
watched, and it was not long before Andrew was sus- 
pected. The Post Master had every confidence in him ; 
he was accommodating and quick with assorting the 
mail. 

Inspectors watched and soon they had enough evi- 
dence to warrant them to search his room. They 
found there several letters addressed to different stu- 
dents from lady friends, which he detected most likely 
from the handwriting. All the letters from Miss 
Lloyd to Jonathan and from Jonathan to Miss Lloyd 
were found there. 

Andrew was arrested, his arrest causing a great 
commotion in the camp of Dissent, — making it as if 
his arrest were the evil work of the clergy. 

On further searching his room documents were 
found pertaining to a Welsh Society, composed of sev- 
eral ^^popular’^ preachers and others. The object of 
the Society was to create public opinion against the 
Church, and the clergy. Andrew was the '^Hon. Sec- 
retary.” 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


153 


The society's activity consisted in Anti-Tithes oper- 
ation, and in procuring evidence, and if necessary in 
making evidence, against the integrity and personal 
probity of priests and prominent laymen of the Church. 

One case in particular, as a specimen of many other 
such cases, that of Mr. Thomas J. Jones, eldest son of 
'Squire Jones, of Plas Llanfair, Cardiganshire, a prom- 
inent layman who had suffered much persecution. He 
was charged with having enticed Margaret, daughter 
of the 'Squire's gardener. Margaret, — she called her- 
self Marguerite, — was a beautiful girl of eighteen 
years, of a weak mind and easily led, — very fond of 
fine clothes. 

Mr. Jones was an upright young man, and both he 
and his father were influential as they were always 
active on behalf of the parish and county. Both were 
faithful members of the parish Church, of the Cath- 
olic party, Conservatives in politics, and unlimited in 
their deeds of charity. 

The general election was on, and it was very neces- 
sary that Sir John Johnes, Bart., should be defeated by 
the Radicals, as every vote would be necessary in the 
wild attempt of robbing the Church. Mr. Thomas 
Williams, of Nantgaredig, was nominated by the Rad- 
icals. Sir John's popularity was well known. The 
case of the '‘five farmers and the tithes for Trefecca 
College" had wrought havoc among the pious Dissent- 
ers, and now unless something very sensational could 
be brought against the Church party Sir John would 
be elected. Then some member of this Secret Society 
hit upon the plan of connecting the 'Squire's son with 
Margaret’s condition. 

Two "detectives" were placed on the case. These 
were the Rev. Solomon Jenkins, Anabaptist, and the 


154 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Rev. Griffith Elias Owen, a ''big preacher’' with the 
Socinians. 

They got hold of Margaret, and through threatening, 
coaxing, promising, and what not, they got her to 
"confess” that Thomas was the responsible party. The 
"confession” was written before they left the study of 
Mr. Owen, and it was sensational to the highest de- 
gree. These two men hired Mr. Thomas Davies, a 
well known criminal lawyer, who had the reputation 
of being able to "prove that white was black,” as her 
lawyer. A great asset of Davies was his apparent 
hatred to the Church, clergy and the gentry in general. 

Then as soon as Margaret had signed the "confes- 
sion” they told her that if the police would ever find 
out that she had sworn to a lie that she would be 
hanged, and for her to stick through thick and thin to 
this confession. And there the poor girl was. They 
paid Margaret two pounds for this lie, and gold to 
Margaret meant new clothes. 

John the gardener was overwhelmed. He would 
not believe the accusation. His wife did, or at least 
she pretended that she did, for to her the "detectives” 
had held out the enormous sum of money the 'Squire 
would pay to keep the thing quiet, and that most likely 
her daughter would be sent to a London hospital until 
the trouble would be past. 

But the 'Squire would not be frightened, and the 
case had become public, and now to clear themselves 
the "detectives” found that they had to take the case 
into court. There on the testimony of the girl and 
corroborated in some detail by three men, Thomas was 
found guilty by the local magistrates. He was or- 
dered to pay five shillings a week for the support of 
the child, and another five shillings a week for the 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


155 


support of the mother. Of course he refused to pay 
and appealed the case. 

This was used by the Radicals to much advantage 
among the simple hearted farmers of Cardiganshire, 
where a woman’s virtue is highly thought of. From 
evidence obtained in Andrew’s room the two reverend 
“detectives” were arrested, tried and convicted for con- 
spiracy, and for forging false evidence. 

But not in time to save the election of Sir John 
Johnes, as he lost by twenty-seven votes. 

Three other “popular preachers” were wanted, but 
they left suddenly to parts unknown, as soon as they 
heard of Andrew’s plight. 

These are dark spots on the firmament of Dissent, 
yet it is not fair to judge the rank and file by the con- 
duct of these “Political Preachers.” The rank and 
file of Dissent, preachers and people, are men of 
prayer, of honest and upright hearts, who are the salt 
of the earth, and are like cities built on the hill for the 
conspicuousness of their just dealings and noble works. 

These “political preachers” are no more “types” of 
real Dissent than they are “types” of real Welshmen. 

Andrew Williams was convicted, and sentenced to 
ten years in prison, the charge of “conspiracy” was 
withdrawn as Andrew turned “state’s evidence” and 
gave valuable information to the cfown of the work- 
ings of the Welsh Society of which he was the “hon. 
secretary.” 


YR ARGivWYDD YW FY MUGAII.. 


156 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER XXVL 

wales aroused — A magnificent demonstration. 

True to his promise ’Squire Rowland Williams, 
M. P., was in his seat when the Welsh Disestablish- 
ment and Disendowment Bill was considered for the 
third reading. 

The country was stirred from one end to the other 
as it had not been stirred for generations, or since the 
release of the great seven Bishops. 

Two days before the time for the third reading a 
remarkable demonstration was made. I was not in 
London then, and must rely on reports of eye wit- 
nesses and the papers : — 


MAGNIFICENT DEMONSTRATION AGAINST 
WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT 


Thousands of Welshmen with Englishmen in 
Procession 


resolutions of protest adopted amidst enthusiasm 


London, June 18th, 1 . 

A remarkable demonstration against the Welsh Dis- 
establishment and Disendowment Bill, mainly by 
Welsh Church people themselves, took place in Lon- 
don on Wednesday last, when meetings were held sim- 
ultaneously at the Royal Albert Hall and in Hyde 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


157 


Park in the afternoon. It was estimated that between 
13,000 and 15,000 Churchmen and Churchwomen came 
up from the four Welsh Dioceses to take part in this 
great public protect against the bill, while some 5,000 
Churchmen were joined with them from Lancashire 
and other parts of the country. The most impressive 
feature of the demonstration was the procession of 
men from Regent’s Park and the Albert Hall, about 
two miles long; these Welsh Churchmen marching in 
fours behind their bands and flags and banners 
through the chief West End thoroughfares and raising 
immense enthusiasm among many thousands of spec- 
tators. The procession, as graphically described by 
the Times representative, comprised every type of 
Welshman : 

“The parson and the ’squire walked with the Cardiff 
merchant, the miner from the Rhondda valley, and 
the peasant from the northern countryside. The four 
Welsh Bishops were at the head of this great Church 
army; many of the laymen were accompanied by their 
clergy. And it seems that more Welsh was spoken 
than English. It was the singing of 'Onward, Chris- 
tian Soldiers,’ and other familiar hymns that gave to 
the procession its distinctive character. This was per- 
haps the feature which made the greatest impression 
on the London crowds.” 

It was indeed, it is added, one of the chief lessons 
of the whole demonstration in view of the “nationality’’ 
argument set up by the supporters of the bill. And 
the Church Times says, in its report by special repre- 
sentatives : — 

“No one can venture to deny that it was a trium- 
phant march, and the thousands of sight-seers who 
thronged the route — Londoners for the most part, who 


158 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


are accustomed to displays of this kind — must have 
been deeply impressed by the sight of these men from 
the mountains and mines of Wales, who are thus show- 
ing their deep love for the Church of their fathers, 
which is well expressed in one of the Welsh hymns 
sung in the course of the day, — one moving verse of 
which runs as follows : — 

‘The Church of our fathers, long founded and old. 

The Cross on her banner, she still will uphold ; 

The prayers of her saints, like incense shall rise. 

Her glad songs resound to the skies. 

Home, Home, Home of our fathers of old : 

May she at last, when earth is past, 

In heaven Thine own Presence behold.' " 

Among the bands of music procured for the occa- 
sion was the “Besses o' the Barn," of world-wide fame. 
At the head of the procession were borne the old* Na- 
tional flag of Wales and those of S. David and S. 
George. Most of the banners bore inscriptions in 
Welsh and testified to the remote antiquity of the 
Church in Wales in such parochial names and dates 
as “Church of S. Buan, established A. D. 595," and 
“S. Cybi, Holyhead, A. D. 550." Some of the in- 
scriptions in English drove their meaning home in 
terse and sentious phrase : “Honesty is the Best Pol- 
icy;" ‘AVe Want Churches, not Museums;" “Our 
Patron Saint is David, not McKenna;" “Will a Man 
Rob God?" “Who Robs the Welsh Church Robs the 
Welsh Poor ;" “Englishmen — Help Us to Defend the 
Church of our Fathers." The demonstration in Al- 
bert Hall was presided over at first, in the unavoidable 
absence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, by the Arch- 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


159 


bishop of York, and afterwards by the Primate. The 
vast circular building, which holds 10,000 people, was 
never more full than on this occasion, and the enthu- 
siasm was commensurate with the demonstration. The 
singing of the Hymn, “O God, our help in ages past,” 
was followed by the .announcement by the Archbishop, 
“Y'^ou will remain standing for prayer and the rehearsal 
of our Holy Faith, and the Lord’s Prayer.” The 
Prayers, recited by the Bishop of Willesden, included 
the collect for the sixteenth Sunday after Trinity and 
the prayer for 'The High Court of Parliament.” As 
the Archbishop of York rose to speak, in all parts of 
the Hall people rose and cheered and waved papers, 
hats and handkerchiefs. The Archbishop spoke in 
part as follows : — 

"This meeting makes its own speech, a speech most 
striking, most eloquent. You are here to say that as 
Welshmen you are devoted to your Welsh Church. 
You find that your Celtic spirit is inspired and ex- 
pressed in the service of your Church, and you find 
yourselves in alien surroundings anywhere else. You 
are here to ask why, just at the moment when your 
Church is rising up to vindicate the memories of the 
past, and to meet the problems of the future, and is 
doing the duties of the present, it should be torn out 
of the heart of your national life, where it has been 
for more than eighteen hundred years. Though you 
are Welshmen, in the fellowship of the Church of God 
you are bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, and 
we mean to stand by you and to make your cause our 
own. I know you are not so closely joined to me as 
you are to my brother of Canterbury. But I would 
say that you will be supported not only by the Church 
of Augustine but also by the Church of Paulinus and 


160 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Wilfred and Aiden and Cuthbert. It is said that this 
bill has produced no enthusiasm. It has. But it is 
the enthusiasm of opposition. This is a matter which 
breaks right across the ordinary lines of party division. 
The principle of Welsh Establishment goes too deep 
in reason and in history to be dismissed by the com- 
monplaces of Mr. McKenna's old fashioned individ- 
ualism. The Church has never been a department of 
the State. It has been here at the side of the State 
from the moment the State was bom. It is the nurse 
that has taught the State its first lessons. Therefore 
at the present time to dare to tear away out of our 
corporate life that element of witness to the Christian 
Faith would be to make a profound revolution in our 
national customs, sentiment and history. If the State 
were to transgress its limits and violate the funda- 
mental principles of the Church, then there would be 
a crisis with which we should have to deal. But the 
moment v^hen the time has come for the Church, for 
its own sake, to leave the alliance with the State is for 
the Church itself to decide. That alliance needs also 
the assent of the people; but that is a matter which 
must be left to the people to judge, and our complaint 
of this present business is that a revolution so remark- 
able, touching to the very quick the springs of our 
national life, should be hurried through piece-meal. 
We decline to believe that — even as regards Wales — 
there has been any considered judgment of the people. 
This bill is out of date. It does not touch the ques- 
tion which this country really cares for. It belongs to 
a stale, flat, and unprofitable political programme." 

The Archbishop's notable speech was frequently 
punctuated with loud and prolonged cheers. 

The first resolution was moved by the Hon. Goode 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


161 


Lex, leader of the Opposition in the House of Com- 
mons : — 

“That this meeting of representative Churchmen 
from Wales and from every English Diocese emphat- 
ically condemns the Established Church (Wales) Bill, 
and calls upon the Government to submit it to the 
judgment of the people before attempting to pass it 
into law.” 

No one could pretend, said Mr. Lex, that 
this que^stion was an issue at the last General Election, 
and this bill was only possible because the constitution 
was in suspense. On this as on every other question 
the responsibility of the decision rested with the people 
of the country as a whole, and this bill could never 
be justified merely on the ground that Welsh members 
supported it. Of all the proposals of the bill, that of 
dismembering the Church seemed to him the most 
unjustifiable. 

Parliament proposed, against the will of the Church, 
both in England and Wales, to break a connection 
which had lasted far longer than Parliament itself has 
lasted. That was oppression. Parliament would not 
dream of doing it to any ordinary legal corporation ; 
and to do it to the Church was not only unjust but 
tyrannical. On the claim of the Church to her ancient 
endowments, Mr. Lex read the words of Free- 
man, the historian, whom he thought he could with 
some confidence cite against the Home Secretary on 
the grounds of authority and impartiality. He went 
on to say that the Chancellor of the Exchequer also 
invented a new argument, in connection with his erro- 
neous views as to what took place in the Church of 
England in the sixteenth century. “All this false his- 
tory, all these financial theories to the plain man and 


162 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


to the honest man were not interesting and they car- 
ried no weight/’ declared Mr. Lex. The claim 
of the Church to her endowments rested on a ground, 
he said, which in every civilized country, and at all 
times, had been regarded as the best title to property — 
undisturbed use over a long period of time. 

The Bishop of S. Asaph seconded the resolution, 
and spoke first in Welsh and then in English. Their 
protest, he said, was not against a calm and certain 
decision of the democracy of the country, 'Tut against 
the tyranny of a Cabinet who, like an ancient oligarchy, 
derive their power from the fortuitous concourse of a 
chaotic following.” Referring to the Prime Minister's 
speech on the second reading of the bill, the Bishop 
did not think that a knowledge of Welsh history was 
one of the products of Mr. Askitt’s genius. 'T am 
tempted to think that he has been studying Welsh 
Church history in the Home Office.” He recalled how 
nineteen years ago he stood upon this platform in the 
same cause, and against more formidable forces. But 
Churchmen won then, and they were going to win now. 

The resolution was carried unanimously amid a 
scene of great enthusiasm. After the singing of the 
hymn, "The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, 
our Lord,” the Duke of Devonshire moved the second 
resolution : — 

"That this meeting calls upon all Churchmen, irre- 
spective of political opinion, and upon all who value 
the preservation of Christianity in our country, to 
whatever denomination they may belong, to use every 
means in their power to resist the passage of a bill 
which would repudiate the continued recognition of 
religion by the State, dismember the Church by Act of 
Parliament, and to divert to secular objects the slender 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


163 


endowments of the four dioceses which have been for 
centuries devoted to the service of God/’ 

The Dean of Manchester, Bishop Welldon, who sec- 
onded, described the bill as an anti-democratic one, 
contrary to the interests of the people at large. This 
resolution was also adopted unanimously. Concluding 
speeches were made by two Welsh laymen and by the 
Bishop of S. David’s and the Primate. 

The demonstration in the park was also very enthu- 
siastic, but on account of the weather it had to be cut 
short. Among the speakers at the various platforms 
were the Bishop of S. David’s, the Bishop of London, 
and Lord Robert Cecil. A resolution of protest was 
enthusiastically carried. 

DUW YW NODDI^A. 



164 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

A mammoth petition — ROWLAND SPEAKS. 

The debate in the House of Commons was waxing 
warm. Several of the Radicals had spoken, but a few 
of the Opposition. 

A stirring scene took place after a most vicious and 
bitter attack on the Welsh Church and the Welsh 
clergy by Mr. Thomas J. Phillips, M. P., for Pem- 
brokeshire. He accused the clergy, including the 
Bishops, of neglect, and cited the fact that in the Ca- 
thedral Church of S. David’s, only one service a Sun- 
day was held in Welsh by the Bishop and clergy. It 
is true, he said, that a nine o’clock service was held in 
Welsh, but with no music and often with no sermon, 
and hardly any congregation, and he bitterly assailed 
the Church and stated that the vast majority of the 
Welsh people were against the Church, and he doubted 
very much whether a thousand men and women could 
be found in all Wales who were really in love or care 
aught for the Church. 

As he sat down the Hon. Lewis Thomas Jenkins, 
M. P., for Swansea, addressed the Speaker, and asked 
permission to introduce a petition. Permission was 
granted. Petitioning is an inalienable right of a 
Britisher. 

Eight stalwart members of the House thereupon 
came forward with a mammoth petition, signed by 
311,957 men and women of Wales, comprising more 
than one-third of the adult population. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


165 


It was the psychological moment, a petition of 
511,957 presented after the bitter, venomous accusa- 
tion of the Member from Pembrokeshire that not a 
thousand names could be procured in all Wales who 
cared for the Church. This petition seemed to be an 
answer of Divine Providence to his speech. So he 
felt it, and so did the House. None of his friends 
mention the word “petition’' to him. 

An official account of this petition I received as fol- 
lows : — 

* * The most striking and important event 

that took place in the House of Commons was the 
presentation of a huge number of petitions against the 
Welsh Disestablishment and Disendowment, or Spo 
liation,. Bill from various parts of the Principality. 
The rolls of signatures were so numerous that they 
were brought up to the Table with difficulty by the 
eight Unionist members in charge of them on behalf 
of the Central Church Defence Committee. The peti- 
tions were to the number of 1,043, containing the sig- 
natures of 511,957 adults, or about a little less than 
one-third of the adult population of Wales and Mon- 
mouthshire. This is more surprising, as is pointed 
out, in that, the petitions were only set on foot since 
Easter, after the introduction of the Bill. It appears 
that in some of the Welsh villages it had been threat- 
ened on the Radical side that the names of signatories 
against the bill would be got from London and posted 
up in the district, ‘a threat,’ says the Times, Vhich 
was intended as a deterrent.’ Petitions from parishes 
in the English Diocese will be presented to Parliament 
shortly before the adjournment for the recess.” 

Rowland Williams was in his seat. Several of the 
Radicals had urged him to speak, as they felt the Bill 


166 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


was being defeated. He promised that he would speak 
after a while. 

The impression of the mammoth petition on the 
minds of the more temperate Liberals was visible in 
their actions, some openly professing that they could 
not support the Bill in the face of these monster peti- 
tions from the Welsh people; and so it became neces- 
sary to put forward the most eminent speaker the 
Radicals had as Mr. Williams refused to speak yet a 
while. So the Right Hon. Daniel Llewellyn Griffith, 
a Welsh lawyer, was selected as the speaker to coun- 
teract the evil influence of the huge petition. Mr. 
Llewellyn Griffith was born in Wales ; was brought up 
among the ultra teaching of his father, a respected 
pastor of a Welsh Chapel, — a great friend of Islwyn, 
and as gentle and lovable as that eminent poet- 
preacher. When a young man Mr. Llewellyn Griffith 
was articled to a lawyer, and in due course of time 
was admitted to the bar. A young man of rare ability, 
of aggressive temperament, and who believed in him- 
self, young Llewellyn Griffith pushed himself to the 
front. Not that he became a leading lawyer, with big 
fees, at once; oh, no. He struggled for years. But 
being a man of conviction, honorable and true, able 
and talented, he forged himself from one step to an- 
other until he was nominated a member of Parliament, 
and being in a strong Radical centre, with a tongue and 
of good report, he was elected to Parliament. 

His course in Parliament was a continuation of his 
wonderful activity; and there again he forced himself 
to the front, — through his own ability, as he had 
neither wealth nor influence behind him otherwise. 

When the Liberal- Socialist-Laborite-Home Rulists 
combination were returned to power Mr. Llewellyn 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


167 


Griffith was made a member of the New Cabinet. 

Here again he distinguished himself and forced him- 
self to the front, and was head and shoulders above 
his colleagues, although in actual physical size, he was 
of a small frail stature. He was slightly built, witii 
the exception of his head, — that was large enough and 
had the very best stuff inside. He was of poor health, 
but his mind was unconquerable. Whatever his 
faults might have been, he was an honor to his country, 
and was not only the most popular Welshman, but the 
most popular man in the whole world in his day. 

That he was a bitter Non-Conformist was not 
strange under the circumstances and conditions of his 
life. Prejudice against the Holy Church of England 
was born in him, and was a part and parcel of his 
marrow bone. He was taught it from his earliest 
infancy. A patriot he was, pure and simple. His love 
for Wales and mankind is beyond the shadow of a 
doubt, and for these reasons his prejudice against the 
Church was more powerful and dangerous. 

This great man was to be the speaker so as to break 
down the terrific influence of the mammoth petition. 

Mr. Llewellyn Griffith was at his best, and he was 
actuated by the highest motive which can influence a 
good man^s heart and soul, — the love for religious and 
civil liberty. I was present when he spoke. He was 
a master, yea indeed, a past master of rhetoric, and 
surpassed even Gladstone himself in his ability of 
speaking elegantly and persuasively without saying 
anything particular. He spoke for the Nation. His 
chief point was that the property was given the Church 
in trust for the Nation, and now the Nation was no 
longer in the Church, therefore the property should 
be taken away from the Church and placed for the 


168 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


benefit of the people in schools, in colleges, in hos- 
pitals, in libraries. He made most of the period of 
the inactivity of the Church in Wales, he employed 
again the neglect of the Welsh parishes, Welsh serv- 
ices. He drew a vivid picture such as we read in 
‘'Dear Old Wales,” common in Wales seventy-five and 
a hundred years ago, of the narrow-mindedness of the 
clergy and gentry in dealing with the Welsh. He 
spoke fully two hours. There was not a dull sentence 
in his long speech. He brought all his wonderful 
power to bear. He undoubtedly was moved with pure 
and simple enthusiasm. I knew how he felt, because 
one time I felt the same myself. He had his father’s 
spirit, as gentle and pure a man as ever breathed the 
breath of life, his heart was full of humble godliness 
and guilelessness. His influence was powerful, and 
his speech created a furore both in the House and in 
the gallery. 

I saw that Rowland was uneasy. I never saw hini 
looking as he did then. His face was drawn with a 
set determination. His soul was whipped to the ’fray. 

When the applause subsided Mr. Williams rose to 
speak. He was greeted with a tremendous ovation by 
the house, and especially by the Government support- 
ers. This was his first appearance after his illness. 

After some preliminary remarks thanking the mem- 
bers for their warm and appreciative reception, and 
stating how glad he was to be able to be present on 
this momentous occasion, for to his mind the question 
under consideration was the most momentous since 
the introduction of Christianity into Great Britain 
during the first Christian century. Then he stated 
what the nature of the Bill was, and there was loud 
and prolonged cheers from the Opposition when he 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


169 


said, quietly as was his custom, “And being so I cannot 
support this Bill/' Mr. Llewellyn Griffith was 
startled, and from that moment until Rowland was 
through speaking he never took his eyes from him; 
and in spite of his well trained mind and self-mastery, 
yet all could see that the Right Hon. Daniel Llewellyn 
Griffith was affected. 

Then Rowland alluded to his former speeches on 
this question, and in a simple and frank way stated 
how he had changed his attitude. Every one who 
heard him was convinced of his sincerity, and noble- 
ness of purpose. 

He stated that like his friend and fellow country- 
man, the speaker who had just preceded him, he was 
brought up in the atmosphere antagonistic to the 
Church. Plow he had imbued the idea of his elders, 
and how in the little parish of Llangwenllian in North 
Wales, he had come in contact with the Church, and 
how his father and several of the villagers were driven 
out of the country to America through the narrow- 
mindedness of the Rector. How men, English speak 
ing priests, totally unfitted, were appointed Rectors of 
Welsh parishes. Some of these men were most noble 
in their nature otherwise. He cited the case of the 
Rev. Cecil Sparrow as recorded in “Dear Old Wales.’' 
How he had been Rector of Llangwenllian for many 
years and yet during all that time he never had learnt 
to speak Welsh. But now he is in India as a mission- 
ary from S. John of Cowley, but before he set a foot 
in India he had to master the Hindu language, and he 
understood he was doing noble work there for the 
Master. If such a course had been pursued by Eng- 
lish speaking Rectors in Welsh parishes, the condition 
of the Church in Wales would be vastly different from 


170 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


what it was twenty and thirty years ago. And he 
\thanked God that now the time had arrived when a 
' priest who could not speak, read and preach in Welsh 
^ could not get a title to a Welsh parish. 

Then he' entered into the history of the Church in 
Wales, of the, British Church, of the Church of Eng- 
land, Anglicana Ecclesia, and stated that it was abso- 
lutely impossible for any one to prove that the State 
ever had Established the Church or Endowed the 
Church. The Church made Great Britain what the 
country is to-day. 

He challenged his Welsh friend to produce a single 
instance where the Church received endowment from 
the State, — outside of the small assistance called Queen 
Anne’s bounty. Ahd if the Church had been estab- 
lished, where is the Law, — the Statute? 

He took up the arguments of Mr. Llewellyn Griffith 
one by one and pulled them to sfnall pieces. His 
speech was having a tremendous effect. He was 
warming up to his subject in a regular Welsh way. 
His whole soul was aflame. He was natural ; there 
was no borrowed rhetoric, it was rather the eloquence 
of the soul, and the rhetoric and logic of irresistible 
truth. Rowland Williams was a Welshman, was a 
believer in the Holy Catholic Church of the country, 
and he was as if fighting for the existence of the Bride 
of Christ to-night, — he seems to be inspired by the 
Holy Ghost who presided in the council of the blessed 
. Apostles. 

When Rowland finished there was hardly a dry eye 
in the House. He told them of the work of the 
Church, — of the work of the Church among the down- 
trodden, — such work as the work of the noble martyr 
' Mackonoc'hie, and others like him. He pictured the 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


171 


Cliurch a loving'^mother for generations to tlie BVitish ^ 
nation, nursing it in infancy -to .manhood, and from 
manhood to the full; prime of; life as at present. She 
was the Church of the Living God, which He pur- 
chased with His own Blood, — she was the extension 
of God’s heart on earth. 


, Lor fully five minutes after, he sat down there was 
a perfect hush, — a pin could be heard drop, — and then 
there was an awakening, and a triumphant applause,— 
a cheering and a scene hardly ever vv^itnessed among ’ 
the sturdy law rnakers in Parliament ; men cheering, ^ 
crying, and the men and women in the gallery adding ' 
to the solemnity of the occasion and the confusion..^, . 

, Prime Minister Askitt moved an adjournment, which 
was carried. 

, The Welsh Church was saved. Rowland, Williams, ' 
who when a little lad bought the first Bible for the 
pulpit of Horeb, Llangwenllian, the little lad who was 
cpnjpelled to leave home, Wales,- on account of the 
narrow-mindedness of the English speaking Rector in, 
a Welsh parish, he it was in the Providence of God 
who had learnt what the Church meant, and SAvhp the , 
Church of his Country from the ravages of political 
Dissent, Romanism and Infidels. 

Who can refuse to sing with the Rev. David Charles, 
Carmarthen, an Evangelical Preacher with the Meth- 
odists, but who received his Communion in the'Chhrch, ’ 
once a month 


'‘Rhagluniaeth fawr y nef, ' 
; Mbr rhyfedd ,yw: 
Esbomad. h^aeth hon 
Cy ariaeth^riuw 


172 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Mae’n gwylied llwch y llawr, 
Yn trefnu llu y nef, 

CyflawnaY cwbl oil 
O’i gyngor Ef. 

Llywodraeth faith y byd 
Sydd yn ei Haw ; 

Mae'n tynu yma i lawr, 

Yn c’odi draw : 

Trwy bob helyntoedd blin, 
Terfysgoedd o bob rhyw, 

Drychafu’n gysson mae 
Deyrnas ein Duw. 

Ei thVHlwch dudew sydd 
Yn olen gwir; 

Ei d’ryswch mwyaf, mae 
Yn drefn glir: 

Hi ddaw a’i throion maith 
Yn fuan oil i ben, 

Bydd synu wrth olrhain rhai’n 
Tu draw i’r Hen/’ 

goFai, duw. 



A PATRIOTIC STORY 


173 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

CHANGE:S in LIvANGWKNLUAN and persons. 

The influence on the life of the Welsh Church was 
very great, indeed, and the leaders buckled on their 
armor for an earnest warfare. The size of the Dio- 
ceses they realized was too large for one man to do 
thorough and energetic Episcopal work, so a move- 
ment was set on foot to raise sufficient endowment for 
two more dioceses at least, that is two more Bishops. 
And soon through the help of Dr. William Morris a 
sufficient sum was raised to justify the consecration of 
two more Bishops, to be Suffragan Bishops. 

When this measure was brought before Parliament, 
strange to say the Radicals objected to it. They 
thought there was no need of more Episcopal super- 
vision, and the very men who had been decrying the 
neglect of the Church were the ones who now op- 
posed this measure for greater efficiency. But the 
good sense of the majority saw the right and justice 
of the demand for two more Bishops and the request 
was granted. 

The Rev. Father Morgan, Rector of Llangwenllian 
Parish, was designated Suffragan Bishop of Minevia, 
and in his place as Rector the Rev. Jonathan. Thomas 
Rees, M. A., B. D., Curate of Llanllwch, was ap- 
pointed by 'Squire Williams and approved of by the 
Bishop of the Diocese. 

The joy of the parishioners of Llangwenllian knew 
no bounds when they learned of the appointment. 
There had been much sorrow at the parting with their 


174 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


beloved Rector Morgan and his family, whom the ^ 
people had learned to value not only as the Rector of 
the parish but as a friend to each individual in the 
parish. 

■ , ^ I i ' ; i ; I ; ( i • , I 

Poor Sally Williams was spared this grief of part- 
ing with her parish priest, for a few weeks previous 
to his appointment her soul was carried to Paradise. 

Thomas Jones,, full of years, had also passed away.<^ 
His son Tom is the proprietor of the store now, which 
has been enlarged, a fine building having been erected 
on the corner of Queens street and Cambrian place. 
The little country store has become a department 
store, and Tom has nearly one hundred and fifty clerks 
working for. him. Ben the Bard is still alive, but 
chaste and ripe for the harvest. 

. Azaraiah William Watkins has maintained his repu- 
tation well as the village, now town, bard, for by this . 
time he has gained fame throughout the Principality 
as a winner of two chairs, three crowns in the National 
Eisteddfodau, and innumerable prizes of medals^ 
moneys, in smaller literary competitive meetings. H.e , 
graduated from Cambridge, is now a priest, — a curate 
in the parish of Criccieth, North Wales, — -the home of 
the peerless Welsh Statesman, the Right Hon. David 
Lloyd George. 

Azaraiah speaks often of his uncle, the unique Aza- 
raiah as described in ‘‘Dear Old Wales,^’ and of the 
valuable training he received at the. hands of his uncle. 
How different it would; be df we cquld see the souls 
of men instead of the. bodies, — then many of our fel- 
low men who now ^appear o^dj youjd then be. recpg- . 
nized as princes in the world of thought, — the only 
lasting world. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


175 


As soon as Jonathan was settled in his new parish, 
and in fact long before that, his mind drifted towards 
Llanfynydd, towards the adorable Edith Gwen Lloyd; 

I and as the reason for the abrupt cessation of writing 
on both sides had been satisfactorily explained, he 
I found no great difficulty in having an interview with 
Gwen. The success of the interview was witnessed 
j a little later in his return to Llanfynydd when the 
most beautiful and fairest flower of the parish became 
I the wife of the Rector of Llangwenllian. 

' DIOI.CH IDDO. 



i 

I 


176 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

THE disestablishment OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. 

The defeat of the Government was keenly felt, and 
when the news reached the people there was but one 
thing for the Government to do, and that was to dis- 
solve Parliament and appeal to the people. 

The Government had placed its existence on this 
Bill, for it was the Bribe to the Socialists, the Labor- 
ites, and the Irish Home Rulers for their aid and sup- 
port against the Conservative Party; and when this 
Bill was so overwhelmingly defeated by aid of the 
Liberal Members joining the Opposition, the Free 
Thinkers, the Infidels and the Opportunists left it as 
rats desert a sinking ship, and there was no way for 
Prime Minister Askitt to continue in power. So Par- 
liament was not only prorogued but dissolved after 
only two years of existence, and an appeal to the coun- 
try was made. 

The only question before the People was the Dis- 
establishment and the Disendowment of the Church 
of England, especially the Four Welsh Dioceses. 

The Right Honourable D. Llewellyn Griffith took an 
active part, and travelled day and night throughout 
England and Wales, — speaking for the Government 
and urging the return of the Liberal party to power. 
He was for the Disestablishment and the Disendow- 
ment of the Welsh Church. 

In the same Party was Rowland Williams, and he 
followed Mr. Llewellyn Griffith from place to place 
advocating the integrity of the four Welsh Dioceses 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


177 


with the rest of the Sees in communion with Canter- 
bury. He pleaded that if the Church of England de- 
sired to be relieved of State interference that she her- 
self shou-d be the one to decide the question; and not 
such infidels as Robert vonStein, Marx Ebersole and 
Larry DePerck. The Christian religion should be 
dealt with by its advocates and not by its enemies. 

Many Dissenting Ministers became orators against 
the Church, and joined hands with avowed enemies 
of the Cross ; and on the other hand many of the most 
eminent Ministers of Dissent refused to help the 
enemies of religion, and came boldly to the defence 
of the National Church. They acknowledged the 
awakening of the Church ; and they thought it was 
inconsistent for ministers and professors of the Chris- 
tian religion to fight the Church now that she had 
awakened to discharge her mission, as they had pro- 
fessed to oppose the Church on account of her in- 
activity. 

A number of priests also took active part in defence 
of the Church. 

In fact party lines, to a great extent, were obliter- 
ated, for even the Liberal party itself was evenly 
divided for and against the Church. The Conserva- 
tive Party stood united for the integrity of the Welsh 
Dioceses and the Honor of the Nation. 

The first election to the new Parliament was to be 
in the district of Crickett, the seat of the Rt. Hon. D. 
Llewellyn Griffiths. Against him was pitted young 
Viscount Conway, an ardent and devout '^High 
Churchman,’' of an illustrious family, a young man of 
rare ability, who had made for himself quite a record 
as a patriotic scion of an ancient house. While Lord 
Conway was popular, yet he was in a district hope- 


178 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


iessly Radical and overwhelmingly Protestant, with a 
two-thirds normal majority for the Radical party ; and 
with such a world renowned statesman as D. Llewellyn 
Griffith against him it appeared that his lordship’s 
chances of being elected were very sfim indeed. But 
young Conway was a Welshman, and had a Welsh- 
man’s heart and faith in his God and native Church. 
He believed that he was right, and like David of old, 
the giant of Gath had no horrors for him, for he came 
against him in the name of the Lord, whose Church 
Goliath had blasphemed. 

Mr. Llewellyn Griffith, in full confidence of his 
strength, derided the inexperienced Conway, and called 
him the stripling of a boy, and promised to give his 
flesh to the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field 
on election day. But Conway worked hard, trusting 
in no personal or family influence. He refused to take 
refuge in worldly weapons, — the tricks of politics ; but 
he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, 

’ — in other words he appealed to the complete man, as 
made up of five senses. 

The election day was approaching, and the excite- 
ment was at white heat ; so much depended on the 
first battle. But the Giant of Crickett had no fears. 
The only question with him and his party was how 
small would Conway’s body be scattered to the fowls 
of the air and the beasts of the field. 

The weather on election day was ideal ; and early 
in the morning crowds gathered at the polls, — and each 
party was determined. 

The issue was clear and single: Shall the Church 
be Disestablished? And if so shall she be Disen- 
dowed? 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


179 


The Radical party said “Yes/’ to both questions. 
The Conservative party said “No,” to Disendowment, 
and for Disestablishment that should be left to the 
Church herself to decide, whether she wanted to be 
released of any connections which existed between her- 
and the civil Government. 

Young Conway and the Giant of Crickett mixed 
with the people on election day, and once they met, — 
each cordial to the other, for both were W elshmen, and 
both fought for the betterment of Wales. 

The people were to decide, the people voted. The 
polls were closed, and it was found that young Vis- 
count of Conway had not only a plurality, but a com- 
plete majority over the combined strength of the oppo- 
sition, — the Radicals, the Socialists, the Laborites and 
the Home Rulers, who had centred on the return of 
the Giant of Crickett and worked hard for his election. 

The Radical party was stunned, and bitter was the 
result to the enemies of the Church. Dissent was des- 
perate and rampant, and redoubled its efforts to save 
other places. Carmarthen county, and the Boroughs 
of Carmarthen and Llanelly were the next members to 
be elected, and it was most important to have these 
three members continue in the Liberal party. But the 
three Conservative candidates were overwhelmingly 
elected ; and so from one borough and shire to the 
other the Liberal Party in Wales was entirely wiped 
out. The attacks of D. Llewellyn Griffith on the Church 
was repudiated, while Rowland Williams was victo- 
rious from one end of the Principality to the other. 

In England itself the battle went the same way. 
Scotland and Ireland still determined, but with con- 
siderable less majority than hitherto, against the 
Church of England. 


180 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


When the last election was counted the Liberal 
Party, combined with the Socialists, Laborites and 
Home Rulers, had 247 members elected, while the Con- 
servative Party had elected 423 members, or a safe 
majority of 176. 

After the defeat of Mr. Llewellyn Griffiths in his 
home place he became a candidate for Mid-Lothian, 
Scotland, and was returned to Parliament from there. 

Rowland Williams was selected by the Sovereign to 
form the new Cabinet. He took the office, and ap- 
plied to it the well known methods he employed in his 
own business ; and for seven years, the limit of time, 
the party was in power. 

And at the election again the party was successful, 
with even a greater majority than before. The Right 
Honorable Rowland Williams declined the honor of 
being Prime Minister again, as he desired to spend the 
remainder of his days as a layman in the upbuilding of 
the Church. 

The first work of the new Government was the in- 
troduction of a bill calling on the Convocations of Can- 
terbury and York to express their desire in the matter 
of the connection of Church and State. 

.\fter the ancient custom of the Church the two 
Convocations met, and after careful consideration re- 
plied, stating that the Church desired to be relieved 
of any connection with the Government. Regarding 
endowment the Church desired to return to the State 
the endowment, or rather the donation, commonly 
known as ‘'Queen Anne’s Bounty,” given to assist the 
poorer parishes. 

The report was read in Parliament and a Bill based 
on the report was introduced. The question of dis- 
establishing the Church was bitterly fought in the Com- 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


181 


mons, and strange to say the very members who were 
in favor of Disestablishing the Church at the previous 
Parliament were now^ furiously against it. The Bill 
passed the three readings in the Commons and was 
nearly unanimously concurred in by the House of 
Lords. The vote in the Commons on the final passage 
was 499 for and 125 against. 

So the Church was released of her connection with 
the State. She is now capable of electing her own 
Bishops, and regulating all her own affairs through her 
own councils ; and she is no longer subject to the 
humiliating position of being ruled by Jews, Infidels, 
Dissenters and Erastian Churchmen. 

As the time passes the re-newed Church is gaining 
rapidly in the affections of the people ; and as a leading 
Non-Conformist says: — ^Tf the Church will gain for 
the next fifteen years as she has gained for the last 
five years there will be no Non-Conformist in exist- 
ence then.” Thousands of Dissenters are . added to 
the Church annually. The Evangelical Dissenters 
enter gladly into the fold, as they have seen their 
hearts’ desire fulfilled in the activity of the Church in 
preaching the Gospel in season and out of season. 
The Political Dissenters are deserting their Chapels 
and denominations, and are being absorbed by the 
Atheistical Socialism and falsely so-called Labor 
Party. 

The influence of Dissent is gone, and once more we 
have the Bible read in the schools ; once more the 
fundamentals of religion and morality are taught the 
young minds, and once more prayer and praise are 


182 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


heard within the walls of the national schools of Great 
Britain : — yea, once more the heart and head are co- 
educated. 

TI, DDUW A FOLWN, Tl A GYDNAYDDWN YN ARGGWYDU. 

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A PATRIOTIC STORY 


183 


CHAPTER XXX. 

DE:aR old wales and dear old WELSHMEN. 

Wales! What a word of magic meaning! Wales, 
what memories it revives ! Wales ! How hearts are 
thrilled with the mention of thy name! Wales, the 
l:)rightest gem in the brightest crown of Empires ! At 
thy white gloved hand the mightiest kingdom and 
empire in the world receives its King and Emperor ! 

Thy people are like thy precious mines! Modest 
and retiring are they of their worth and merit, — as 
thy soil, precious metal is not on the surface but in 
the deep. 

Thy vales and hills, thy rocks and rills are covered 
with crowns of glory! Thy hedges are like chains of 
gold adorning thy neck, and thy trees are yielding fruit 
for the use of man and beast ! Thou art indeed a fair 
garden of the Lord of Hosts ! 

For two hundred years thou hast been a struggling 
place of light and darkness ; and during that time God 
has raised up many prophets in thy Israel ! Peter Wil- 
liams, yr Esboniwr; Williams, the Sweet Singer of 
Pantycelyn; Williams y Wern; the Rees’s and the 
Thomas’s; the great S. R., and J. R., of Llanbryn- 
mair ; Islwyn, Estyn, Llawdden ; Charles ’s ; Leurwg ; 
Michael D. Jones, Hwfa Mon; Latimer Jones, Hopcyn, 
and hosts of other men and women in the Church and 
in Dissent. They were great men and prophets, — 
Welshmen and Christian Champions true to the core. 


184 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Even during the gloomiest days of the Church God 
raised up mighty priests and prophets and teachers. 

The Mission of Dissent was apparent; it was an 
instrument in the hand of God to chastise his neglect- 
ful Church in the Island. The chastening continued 
long, but at last the Church responded, she repented 
in sackcloth and ashes, and is now and has been for 
years doing splendid work. But Dissent once entered 
hated to retire, and its evangelical preachers, — the 
John Elias's and the Christmas Evans's, were ex- 
changed for different type of men, for political preach- 
ers, tyrannical in ^ their mission of creating discord 
between Christian and Christian, to emphasize class 
distinction and to sow the seed of discontentedness. 
Happily, the day of Dissent is passing away, their day 
of doom has come. And thousands upon thousands 
of God fearing, single hearted Non-Conformists are 
leaving Dissent every year for the true Church of God 
in Britain. 

In the Church of England herself two parties have 
been warring, — on the one hand the Catholic, God 
fearing communicants, who are filled with love and 
loyalty to the Master ; and on the other hand the 
Erastians with the love of this world uppermost in 
their minds. As the Church advances and reaches 
forward to conquest after conquest the Erastians are 
driven, away, and the Catholic party is gaining both 
from the rank of the Erastian and Dissenting parties, 
—coming back to their Mother's Home. And from 
Llangwenllian in the north to the very extreme south- 
ern parish is seen the evidence of new life born of 
true love, and the Church, as a giant awaking out of 
sleep, is permeating Wales with the spirit of the saints, 
and Wales is taking her place among the great nations 


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of the world as an exponent of true Liberty, Freedom 
and Progress, in religious and civil economy. And 
thus goes on the Army of the Lord from strength to 
strength, from victory to victory, and the Reclama- 
tion of Wales is becoming more and more complete 
every day. 

DUW SYDD. 




186 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


CHAPTER XXXL 
IN the: gloaming looking forward. 

Rowland Williams is getting on in years, — his hair 
is as white as the driven snow, and the troubles and 
cares and the burdens of life begin to show in his 
drooping shoulders. His last years he devotes en- 
tirely to the Church. 

Megan has taken the veil. She is the Rev. Mother 
Superior in S. Gwenllian Convent, working in the 
midst of the great mart of commerce which has sprung 
up around her home, as the mines and quarries have 
been developed. The Convent is in the parish and 
under the control of the Rector of Llangwenllian. 
Glyndwr is a priest, and is in the Order of S. John 
the Evangelist, of Cowley. At present he is in the 
United States and Canada conducting retreats and 
missions. 

Gladys, the beloved wife of Rowland Williams, and 
the beloved friend of all who knew her, has gone to 
her great reward. She passed away peacefully into 
Paradise a few weeks after her son was ordained a 
Priest in the Church of the Living God, — she was full 
of joy and hope, and she passed away as she was 
singing in low melody the beautiful words: 

'T love the Church, the Holy Church, 

The Saviour’s spotless Bride; 

And O, I love her palaces. 

Through all the world so wide. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


187 


The cross-topped spire amid the trees, 

The holy bell of prayer, 

The music of our Mother’s voice. 

Our Mother’s home is there. 

Unbroken is her lineage. 

Her warrants clear as when 
Thou, Saviour, didst go up on high. 

And give good gifts to men. 

Here clothed in innocence they stand. 

Thine holy orders three. 

To rule and feed Thy flock, O Christ, 

And ever watch for Thee. 

I love the Church — the Holy Church — 

That o’er our lives presides — 

The birth, the bridal and the grave, 

And many an hour besides. 

Be mine through life to live in her, 

And when the Lord shall call. 

To die in her, the Spouse of Christ, 

The Mother of us all.” 

Rowland and myself are often together, and sweet 
indeed are our communings. We look back to the 
time of our youth, and then on the way we so long 
have travelled together, and we think of those dear 
hearts who travelled with us, but who are with us no 
more, and then we look forward to a little distance 
in the road and we have a glimpse of the waters of 
Jordan, and we see in the mist the boatman pale cross- 
ing in his boat with some friend and companion of 


188 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


our own, and we hear the dip of the golden oar as he 
reaches the shore. We long to hear him call us, for 
we fear not; we long to cross to the other side to be 
with those whom we loved on earth, to see our Elder 
Brother. And Rowland longs to meet his beloved 
Gladys, and I to meet my beloved wife who passed 
over the dark river some five years ago. Ah, we see 
the bright and beautiful vision of Paradise, and we 
thank God from our hearts that He gave us the un- 
speakable privilege of having a share in 

THE RECLAMATION OF WALES. 

Y DIWKDD YMA AR Y DDAEAR. 



A PATRIOTIC STORY 


189 


The First Readers 

(With humble apologies from the Author for any inability 
of the Head to properly translate the Heart.) 

The Right Honourable and Most Reverend, His Grace, the 
Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England, 
and Metropolitan, Lambeth Palace, London. 

The Right Honourable and Most Reverend, His Grace, the 
Archbishop of York, Primate of England, and Metro- 
politan, Bishopthorpe, York. 

The Right Reverend Watkin Herbert, Lord Bishop of Ban- 
gor, Wales (5). 

The Right Reverend Alfred George, Lord Bishop of St. 
A'saph, Wales (5). 

The Right Reverend Joshua Pritchard, Lord Bishop of 
Llandaff, Wales (5). 

The Right Reverend John, Lord Bishop of St. David’s, 
Wales (6). 

The Right Reverend John Philip Alcott, Bishop Suffragan 
of Thetford, England. 

The Right Reverend John, Bishop Suffragan of Swansea, 
Wales (5). 

The Right Reverend David, Bishop of Ontario, Canada 

The Right Reverend Edward Archibald, Bishop of Guiana, 
Georgetown, British Guiana. 

The Right Reverend Joseph Watkin, Bishop of St. John’s, 
Kaffraria, Umtata, Cape Colony. 

The Right Reverend Arthur Acheson, Bishop of Tinne- 
velly and Madura, Palamcotta, Madras, India. 

The Right Reverend Owen Thomas Lloyd, Bishop of 
Aukland, Aukland, New Zealand. 

The Right Reverend Llewellyn, Bishop of Bermuda and 
Newfoundland. 

The Right Reverend Llewellyn Henry, Bishop of Khar- 
toum, Egypt. 

The Right Reverend Charles David, Bishop of Michigan. 

The Right Reverend Arthur Llewellyn, Bishop of Ne- 
braska. 

The Right Reverend Thomas Frederick, Bishop of West- 
ern Massachusetts. 

The Right Reverend Reginald, Bishop of Fond du Lac. 

Ansonia, Conn. — William W. Edwards (2), Richard Jen- 
kins (2), Mrs. Richard W. Lewis, George L. Travis(3). 

Armour, S. D. — Henry Bartholomew (3), William J. Phil- 
lips (2), Eli Thomas. 

Atcheson, .Kans. — Edward Breen (2), Moses Thomas 
Jones (3), William A. Jones (2), Llewellyn J. Lloyd 
(3), W. R. Lloyd (2), Joseph P. Pugh, Joseph Will- 
iams. 


190 


RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Atlantic City, N. J. — Mrs. Gwen Jones, Edith J. Williams, 
John R. Williams, Richard Harding Wood, Thomas 
Evan Yates (5), Lloyd Llewellyn Zimmer (4). 

Bala, Kans. — J. H. Jenkins. 

Blackwood, Monmouth — The Rev. Dr. J. Morgan-Jones. 

Bainbridge, N. Y. — The Rev. L. L. Weller, LL.B. 

Blackfort, Ida. — William Jones (4), James Thomas, 
Thomas Williams (2). 

Battle Creek, Mich. — Frank G. Evans, Z. A. M. Griffiths 
(4), William J. Seth, John Thomas, George Tomp- 
kins (2). 

Birmingham, England — William J. Browne (3), Samuel 
L. Cook (5), David Owen Cox, Isaac H. Joseph, Evan 
Morgan, Esq., George Elmer Parry (2), Wyndham 
K. Phillips, Thomas W. Shortt, Henry Wright (3). 

Bevier, Mo. — F. D. Jones, Thomas Kemp (2),, William 
Frederick Lloyd (2). 

Burnham, Pa. — David Thomas (2). 

Byesville, O. — Mrs. Rebecca Mathews Bird. 

Beloit, Wis. — The Rev. Evan John Evans, David Davies, 
Morgan, John A. Phillips (2). 

Baltimore, Md. — The Rev. William Dallam Morgan, 
Pritchard Morris (2), William J. Owen, Thomas 
Williams. ‘ 

Bloomington, 111. — Henry Blackford (2), Edward C. Con- 
way, John Jones, Mrs. Sarah J. Morgan (2), William 
Morris. 

Cazenovia, N. Y. — The Very Rev. John T. Rose, M. A. 

Carson, Nev. — The Rev. Lloyd B. Thomas. 

Cardiff, Wales — Harry Farr, Esq., George G. Hunt, Mor- 
gan D. Jones (5), William Jones (2), Evan M. Parry, 
PudHq Library, Thomas J. Welles (2), William W. 
Williams (3). 

Cincinnati, .O. — David Davies (2), Griffith M. Griffiths (2), 
Owen T. Williams, Owen M. Williams (3). 

Chenango Forks, N. Y. — Charles W. Arthur, John Thomas, 

Coal Creek, Tenn. — David R. Thomas. 

Cripple Creek, Colo. — G. R. Lewis, J. T. Morgan, William 
P. Phelps (2). 

Canton, O. — William Hughes (2), John T. Johnson (2), 
Llowellyn M. Jones (5), St. C. Legho, Llewelen K. 
Morgan (2), S. W. Richards, David S. Simpson, 
Edward Turner, 

Douglas, Ariz. — William Pugh. 

Dayton, Ohio — J. R. Griffith. 

Dalton, N. Y.— 1. G. A. Davies, Esq., M. D. 

Erie, Pa.— The Rev. W. Strother Jones, D. D., Mary J. 
Hughes, Edward Flunter, Thomas Williams. 

Elgin, 111. — Judge John H. Williams (2). 

Girard, O. — Thomas B. Evans. 

Green, Kans. — Mrs. Ellen Lloyd. 


A PATRIOTIC STORY 


191 


Comer, O. — George Huntley (3), Harold J. Jones, Ken- 
neth J. Stone (5), Rev. Wm. Surdival. 

Hastings, Neb. — Prof. John Rees. 

Hanging Rock,.0. — The Rev. Benj. James, B. A., B. D. 

Hermiston, Ore. — The Rev. Owen F. Jones. 

Hot Springs, Ark. — The Rev. Dr. A. R. Llwyd. 

Muskogee, I. T. — The Rev. Dr. Hugh T. Llwyd. 

Huntington, Ind. — Mrs. Margaret Coburn (3. 

Hazeiton, Pa. — Margaret T. Sevan (2), Evan Jones (2), 
James E. Roderick (4), John Thomas, Thomas J. 
Williams (3. 

Iowa City, Iowa — The Ven. Archdeacon William D. Will- 
iams, D. D. (6). 

Kingston, Pa. — The Rev. T. C. Edwards, D. D. (Cynon- 
farddj, (2). 

Leechburg, Pa. — Thomas A. Orris. 

Leeland, Md. — The Rev. William John Williams. 

Liverpool, England — Louise C. Chatterton (5), Grant Ed- 
wards (2), Orris J. Harries (2), D. S. Hughes, Esq., 
William Humphreys, John L. Watts (4), Frank J. 
Wood. 

London, England — The Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd-George, David 
J. Davies (3), David L. Davies, Hugh J. Jones (5), 
Philip Phillips, Thomas Rees (3), David Thomas, 
Dewi Thomas, Esq. (2), Edward Wellman (2). 

Merthyr Tydvil, Wales — Miss M. A. Williams. 

Mount Carmel, Pa. — The Rev. Dr. William Williams. 

Mondovi, Wis. — Margaret A. Rosman. 

Maunch Chunk, Pa. — James J. Bevan. 

Martinez, Cal. — The Rev. Evan Glandon Davies. 

Marinette, Wis. — The Rev. W. H. Willard Jones. 

Marshwood, Pa. — Jacob O. Hopkins. 

Memphis, Tenn. — Jenkin L. Lloyd, Owen M. Needham (2), 
Evan J. Rees, Esq. (3), T. W. Wendel (3). 

Nashotah Seminary, Wis. — George T. Gruman (3), Nash- 
otah Seminary (complimentary). 

North Platte, Neb. — E. S. Davis. 

Newport, Ore. — Francis Owen Jones. 

Neath, Pa. — The Rev. James Williams. 

Norwich, N. Y.— The Rev. R. M. Duff, D. D. 

Neath Abbey, Wales — Dafydd W. Prosser, Ysw. 

New Lexington, O. — T. B. Williams, Esq. 

Nicholson, Pa. — William R. Williams. 

Niles, O. — Rhys J. Davies, Sr., John Phillips, Herbert 
Thomas (6), Mayor W. F. Thomas. 

Oakland, Cal. — Mrs. I. M. Merlinjones (5), Mrs. Georgie 
Merlinjones Todd (5), Clarence M. D. Merlinjones 
(5), Alice A. 1. Merlinjones (5), St. Paul’s Sunday 
School Library. 

Omaha, Neb. — The Rev. John Wiliams, D. D. 

Oxford, N. J. — Mrs. R. W. Henderson, Sr. 


192 


OEC 28 

RECLAMATION OF WALES 


Pocomoke, Md. — The Rev. L. Llewellyn Williams. 

Pittsburgh, Pa. — T. Owen Charles, Esq. (4), Henry P. 
Daniel, Henry D. Davies, John Jones (2), Llewellyn 
Jones, William L. Jones, Anna Thomas, Jane Thomas, 
Mary J. Thomas, Mary Wilkins, Mary Anita Williams, 
G. W. Williams, Lloyd H. Williams, T. J. Williams, 
W. H. Williams, Mary B. Worthington (2). 

Pierrepont Manor, N. Y. — The Rev. A. J. Brockway. 

Plymouth, Pa. — W. D. Morris. 

Punxsutawney, Pa. — J. R. Davis, W. S. Thomas. 

Rosedale, Kan. — D. W. Pembridge. 

Rome, N. Y. — The Rev. Morien Mon Hughes, D. D. 

Rocky Mount, Va. — The Rev. W. Thomas Roberts. 

Richmond, Va. — Esau Cocker, Thomas Jenkins, Edward 
T. Jenkins, Southern Churchman (complimentary). 

Syracuse, N. Y. — The Rev. H. C. Coddington, D. D., Clar- 
ence A. Hardage, Frank Knight, Mrs. Frank Knight, 
William H. Maddicks, Frank T. McGinley, Mr. and 
Mrs. Harry Wheadon, James S. Williams, Public Li- 
brary (2). 

Swansea, Mass. — The Rev. J. Wynne Jones. 

St. Louis, Mo. — The Rev. Thomas W. Jones, D. D. 

St. Paul, Minn. — T. C. Jones. 

Sharon, Conn. — The Rev. D. Parker Morgan, D. D. 

Stanton, Mich. — William H. Thomas. 

Sprague, Wash. — The Rev. Jonathan Edwards. 

Sagon, Pa. — Edward Owen. 

Scranton, Pa. — Evan Evans (2), Lloyd T. Edwards, Pugh 
J. Jones, Col. R. A. Phillips, J. E. Watkins (2). 

Taylor, Pa. — Thomas J. Davies, Morgan B. Morgan. 

Toccoa, Ga. — The Rev. Thomas Duck, M. A. 

Turner, Ore. — Margaret A. Rosman. 

Turtle Lake, N. D. — John E. Williams, 

Theresa, N. Y. — The Rev. L. A. Davison, M. A., The 
Weekly Gleaner. 

Topeka, Kan. — Mrs. Joseph Davies. 

Utica, N. Y.— The Rev. E. H. Coley, D. D., D. R. Williams 
(.Index), Kate Thomas. 

Wichita, Kan. — The Rev. Percy T. Fenn, D. D., Ph. D. (2). 

Wheaton, 111. — Charles J. Jones. 

Washington, D. C. — The Rev. W. M. Morgan-Jones, D. D. 

Winsted, Conn. — The Rev. G. W. Phillips, D. D. 

Wyandotte, Mich. — The Rev. W. Powell Thomas, D. D. 

Walton, N. Y. — The Rev. Dr. W. Ceredig Davies. 

Wilkes-Barre, Pa. — Isaac W. Joseph. 

Williamstown, Pa. — John E. Williams. 



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